SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth University used a 17-4 run to close the first half, which sparked a dominating second period in an 86-51 win over visiting George Fox in a recently-scheduled Northwest Conference men's basketball game on Friday night.

The Pirates improved to 9-5 while the Bruins dropped their first official game of the season.

Liam Fitzgerald posted his third consecutive double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds.  He made 9 of 10 shots from the field and also added four assists.

After Whitworth jumped ahead early 10-4 on a Miguel Lopez three-pointer, George Fox came back to tie the game 12-12 when Kalu Stricklin scored a put-back basket.  The Bruins took a 20-16 lead on consecutive three-pointers by JD Ahlstrom and Brendan Ritschardson before the Bucs retied the game 22-22 after four straight points by Jake Holtz.  The game was still tied 25-25 with 7:23 to go when Whitworth went on its decisive 17-4 run to close the half.  The Pirates held the Bruins to 2-9 shooting during that stretch and forced four turnovers.

Whitworth kept up the momentum and the defensive pressure in the second half, outscoring George Fox 44-22 in the final 20 minutes.  The Bruins made only 24% (9-38) from the field after the break, including 11% (2-18) from three-point range. 

Holtz came off the bench for 15 points and seven rebounds for the Pirates, while Garrett Paxton scored 12 and Brad Lackey had 11 points.  Lackey added five boards as Whitworth won the rebounding battle 49-37.  Rowan Anderson had seven of the Pirates' 21 assists.  The Bucs finished the game with a shooting percentage of 48.5, including 51% in the second half.

Stricklin posted a double-double for GFU with 12 points and 11 rebounds.  Donny Santana came off the bench for eight points, including a four-point play late in the contest.

Whitworth and George Fox will play again on Saturday at 5:30 pm.