FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Visiting Whitworth shot 66% from the field and outscored Pacific by 19 points in the second half to pull away for a 94-75 Northwest Conference men's basketball victory on Saturday night at the Stoller Center.

Sam Lees scored a career-high 26 points for the Pirates (12-3 overall, 6-0 NWC), while Garrett Hull posted his second double-double in as many games with 10 points and 10 rebounds.  He also led the Bucs with six assists.

Whitworth struggled against Pacific's pressing defense in the first half and turned the ball over 17 times.  The Pirates came into the game averaging only 14 turnovers per game.  After trailing 19-15 early, Whitworth pulled out to a 37-31 lead on a Lees basket with 2:31 to play.  But the Pirates did not score again in the half and the Boxers were able to tie the game 37-37 at halftime.

It was the first time this season that Whitworth did not have the lead at halftime.

The Pirates opened the second half with a 9-2 run, going up 46-39 on Reed Brown's layup.  The Bucs never trailed again.  Lees' layup three minutes later extended Whitworth's advantage to 54-44 and the Pirates went up 63-46 halfway through the period after Brown stole the ball and fed Hull for an easy breakaway. 

After Whitworth led by as many as 19 points, Pacific was able to pull within 80-67 with just under five minutes to play and got possession of the ball.  But the Pirates made a defensive stop and quickly stretched their lead back to 90-68 with a 10-1 run, capped by JT McDermott's basket. 

Whitworth made 72.4% (21-29) from the field in the second half and held Pacific to only 25.7% (9-35) from the floor in the period.  The Pirates dominated the boards, outrebounding the Boxers 49-23.  The Bucs cut their turnovers to 11 after halftime.

Lees, who came into the game leading the Pirates in field goal percentage (56%), made 13 of 14 from the floor to surpass his previous career high of 22 set two seasons ago against Calvin College.  He also tied his career-best with nine rebounds.

Ben College, the NWC's leading scorer, scored 16 points in the second half to finish the game with 20 for the Bucs. 

Jared Cattell came off the bench to lead Pacific with 15 points, but the Pirates limited him to only two points after halftime.  Davis Holly and Collin Rardin tallied 13 points each.

Whitworth will return home to host Whitman College (11-4, 6-0) on Tuesday night in the season's first Battle of the Whits.