SALEM, Ore. -- Visiting Whitworth survived a foul-filled contest and came away with an 84-70 win Saturday night at Willamette to remain in first place in the Northwest Conference men's basketball standings.

The third-ranked Pirates improved to 15-0 overall and 6-0 in the NWC despite getting whistled for 29 fouls. There were a total of 53 fouls called in the game as the host Bearcats (4-11, 1-5) were dinged 24 times.

David Riley made 10-20 shots from the field and led all players with 27 points to lead Whitworth. The 27 points surpasses his previous season-high of 26 points. Michael Taylor (Brewster, Wash.) added 22 points and five assists, while Jack Loofburrow posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Loofburrow scored all of his points after halftime.

Whitworth trailed only after Willamette scored the opening basket of the game. But Riley hit a pair of shots to spark a quick 6-0 Pirate spurt and the Bucs would not trail again.

Whitworth struggled to separate from the Bearcats in the first half, taking an 18-10 lead on another Riley bucket before Willamette pulled within 20-18 on a jumper by Taylor Mounts. The Bearcats kept close and went into halftime only trailing 32-27.

The Pirates started to stretch the lead early in the second half. Loofburrow hit a pair of quick three-pointers to help Whitworth stretch the lead to 40-29 just over two minutes into the period. Another Loofburrow three extended the lead to 54-36 with 13:27 to play and Willamette would never get the lead back below double figures. Whitworth took its largest lead at 73-53 after a free throw by Chase Ramey with 4:17 to play. Willamette made five three-pointers in the game, and three came in the final four minutes as the Bearcats trimmed the final margin to 14 points.

Terrell Malley led Willamette with 22 points, while Taylor Mounts added an even 20. Ryan Meehan scored 13 points.

Whitworth made 44% (27-61) of its shots from the floor and 88.5% (23-26) from the free throw line. Willamette was 19-48 (39%) from the floor. The Bearcats got to the charity stripe 40 times and sank 27 shots (67.5%).

Whitworth turns around quickly to host Whitman on Tuesday night (8:00 p.m.) in the Whitworth Fieldhouse.