SPOKANE, Wash. -- Felix Friedt scored a career high 27 points to help fourth-ranked Whitworth hold off visiting Puget Sound 72-65 in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game Saturday night in the Whitworth Fieldhouse.
The win allowed the Pirates to improve to 13-0 overall and 4-0 in the NWC. Whitworth has tied its school record for number of wins to start a season. The 2006-07 team also began 13-0.
Friedt, a 6-8 post from Düsseldorf, Germany, made 11-19 from the field and 5-7 from the free throw line to surpass his previous career high of 20 points set earlier this season against UC Santa Cruz.
Whitworth led the final 28 minutes of the game, but the Pirates did not secure the win until Jack Loofburrow made 1-2 free throws with 14.6 seconds left to give the Bucs their final seven-point margin.
The Loggers (5-8, 2-2) were determined to knock off the Pirates from the opening tip, taking a 20-14 lead on a long three-pointer by Kaleb Shelton. But Whitworth answered with a 14-0 run, including eight straight points by Michael Taylor (Brewster, Wash.) to grab a 28-20 lead. UPS would not lead again, but the Pirates could never quite shake the Loggers until the final minute. Taylor's two free throws gave Whitworth a 36-29 lead at halftime.
Early in the second period Aaron Edwards hit a three to pull UPS within 38-34 and Edric Egberuare nailed another trey to keep the Loggers within 47-43 with just over 14 minutes to play. But that is as close as UPS would get.
Friedt scored eight points to key a 13-4 Whitworth run over the next nine minutes to help the Pirates open a 60-47 advantage with under six minutes to play. But the Loggers had one more run themselves, getting to within 66-61 after a steal and lay in by Edwards with 1:18 to play. But Freidt followed with his final basket to help keep UPS at bay.
Egberuare led the Loggers with 15 points, while Shelton finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists. UPS made 40.3% (25-62) from the field and outrebounded Whitworth 40-37.
Besides Friedt, Taylor scored 21 points for the Pirates. Wade Gebbers scored nine points and added six rebounds and four assists. Whitworth was 21-52 (40.4%) from the floor, but only turned the ball over eight times.
Whitworth will have a chance to break the record for perfect start to a season next Friday when the Pirates play at George Fox.