MISSOULA, Mont. – The University of Montana pulled away in the second half for an 84-67 win over visiting Whitworth University in a non-conference men's basketball game on Saturday afternoon at Dahlberg Arena.

Liam Fitzgerald and Miguel Lopez scored 13 points apiece for the Pirates, who fell to 0-3 for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. 

Josh Vasquez led the Grizzlies (5-6) with 14 points.

Whitworth scored six straight points, capped by Fitzgerald's steal and breakaway dunk, to turn an early 10-7 deficit into a 13-10 lead.  Wyatt Walker's long jumper, on the first shot attempt of his career, gave the Pirates a 16-12 advantage 7:35 into the game.  Montana answered with a 17-4 run to go up 29-20 on Josh Bannan's short jumper with five minutes to go in the period.  But Whitworth used an 8-0 run later in the half to tie the game 34-34 on Garrett Paxton's layup.   Vasquez hit a runner at the buzzer to give the Grizzlies a 40-36 lead at the break.

Montana scored six straight points to open the second half and create the first double digit lead of the game (46-36).  The Grizzlies stretched the margin to 67-50 with just over nine minutes to play, but Whitworth had one more run, getting within 69-60 on a Miguel Lopez jumper with six minutes left.

Montana took advantage of a 24-8 advantage in free throw attempts to pull away late in the game.  The Grizzlies, one of the top free throw shooting teams in Division I, made 20.  Whitworth was only 4-8 at the charity stripe.

The Pirate defense harassed Montana into 19 turnovers, including five steals by Fitzgerald, who increased his season total to 13.

Rowan Anderson added 11 points and eight assists for the Bucs, while JT McDermott led the team with six rebounds against the taller hosts.  Whitworth made 47% of its shots, but the Pirates were only 5-21 (24%) from three-point range.

Robby Beasley and Brandon Whitney scored 12 points apiece for Montana.  The Grizzlies shot 54.7% from the floor in the game and had a 37-25 advantage in rebounds.

Whitworth will travel to play NCAA Division II power Seattle Pacific University next Wednesday and Thursday.