TACOMA, Wash. – Whitworth University jumped out to a 10-0 lead and never trailed on the way to an 83-63 victory over the University of Puget Sound on Saturday at Memorial Fieldhouse.

The Pirates (4-3 overall, 2-0 NWC) won their fourth straight game while the Loggers (0-2) dropped their second straight to start the season.

Miguel Lopez had 22 points and nine rebounds to lead Whitworth in both categories.  He opened the game with a three-pointer.  Liam Fitzgerald followed with a trey and Garrett Paxton converted a four-point play to get the Bucs out to the 10-0 lead.

Puget Sound clawed back to within 12-10 on Jourdan Joseph's layup and the Loggers were still within 18-16 when Whitworth went on a 16-2 run to break the game open.  Lopez started the run with three straight baskets and Paxton added a pair of three-pointers at the end.  The Pirates took a 42-29 lead into the locker rooms.

After the Loggers scored the opening basket of the second half, Whitworth scored six straight, capped by a Lopez layup, to go ahead 48-31.  Brad Lackey's layup with 13:54 to go gave the Pirates their first 20-point lead (57-36).  Puget Sound would not get closer than 16 points until the final two minutes of the game.

Whitworth made better than 50% from the floor for the second straight game, finishing 31-60 (51.7%).  Paxton scored 15 points on 3-5 shooting from beyond the arc.  Rowan Anderson added nine points and four assists and Jerry Twenge scored nine off the bench.

Cal Hansen finished with 19 points and nine rebounds to lead UPS in both, despite foul trouble for much of the game.  Paul Johnson added 12 points.  Puget Sound made only 37% (21-57) from the floor, 24% (4-17) from beyond the arc.

Whitworth returns home to host Pacific Lutheran in a pair of Northwest Conference games next weekend.