HONOLULU - Michael Taylor scored 26 points and Whitworth outscored Carthage 19-9 over the final six minutes to defeat the Redmen 81-69 in the first game of the Surf's Up Classic on Wednesday night at Punahou High School.
The Pirates, ranked 16th in the D3hoops.com preseason poll, improved to 3-0. Carthage, ranked 5th in the same poll, fell to 2-2.
Taylor, a senior transfer from the University of Montana, made 10 of 15 shots from the floor and 5 of 6 from the free throw line. His shooting was reflective of Whitworth's shooting overall as the Bucs made 61% of their attempts (29-47).
David Riley scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half to help spark the Pirates from a 35-33 halftime deficit. Riley made 8 of 13 shots from the floor.
Jack Loofburrow came off of the bench for 15 points and post Felix Friedt had 14 points for the Bucs. Taylor and Friedt led Whitworth with seven rebounds each, helping the Pirates finish with a 36-20 rebounding edge over Carthage.
Wade Gebbers posted a career-high 10 assists while directing the Pirates' offense.
Whitworth led much of the first half, taking a 19-12 lead on Taylor's layup almost ten minutes into the game. But freshman Nick Kladis sparked the Redmen with four first-half three-pointers and nine Pirate turnovers in the period allowed Carthage to hang close. Then Max Cary was fouled as the first half expired and he made three free throws to give the Redmen the two-point edge at the break.
Riley made three baskets to spark a 10-3 Pirate run out of halftime, giving the Bucs a 43-38 lead. Whitworth never trailed or was tied again, but Carthage was still within 61-60 after a three-pointer by Jon Cieski with just over seven minutes left. Friedt converted two three-point plays over the next three minutes to help the Pirates take a 72-63 lead. Riley then drained a three with 2:29 to play to give the Bucs their first double-digit lead (75-64).
Kladis made one more three-pointer in the second half to lead Carthage with 15 points. Steve Djurickovic, a D3hoops.com All-American, and Cary added 13 points apiece.
Whitworth will finish its trip to Hawaii on Saturday night with a game against Luther College (Iowa).