SEATTLE – Whitworth University made seven of eight free throws in the final two minutes of the game to hold off Seattle Pacific 69-65 at Brougham Pavilion on Thursday night to sweep the two game series against the NCAA Division II Falcons.

The Pirates improved to 2-3 with the win, giving Whitworth momentum heading into the start of Northwest Conference play January 22-23 at Puget Sound.

The Pirates never trailed in the first half, jumping out to a quick 9-3 lead.  Whitworth closed the half with an 11-3 three run to take a 40-27 advantage into halftime.  The Pirates made 47% (15-32) of their shots in the first half while holding the Falcons to 33% (9-27).  The Bucs also outrebounded SPU 21-15 in the first 20 minutes.

The Falcons (0-2), defending champions of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, charged out of the second half by outscoring Whitworth 26-13 over the first nine and a half minutes, tying the game 53-53 on Mehdi El Mardi's basket with 10:37 to play.  Harry Cavell's three-pointer with five minutes to play gave the hosts their first lead of the game (58-57).

Rowan Anderson, who led the Pirates in scoring for the second straight game, answered with a tough basket in the paint and Liam Fitzgerald followed with a three-pointer to put Whitworth back ahead 62-58.  After SPU got within 62-61, Anderson made a pair of free throws with just over two minutes to play and the Bucs were strong at the line down the stretch, scoring their final seven points with free throws.  Anderson made two more with 14 seconds to go for a 67-63 lead and JT McDermott clinched the win with the final two shots with nine seconds to play.

Anderson scored 17 points and dished six more assists in the win.  Garrett Paxton added 15 points while McDermott scored 13.  Miguel Lopez struggled offensively, but led the Pirates with eight rebounds and four blocked shots on defense. 

El Mardi led SPU with 14 points.  Divant'e Moffitt, who scored 30 points in last night's game, was held to 12 points on Thursday on 4-14 shooting.