WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Playing on the road, the Lewis & Clark men's basketball team faced a tough Whitman Missionary side, falling 79-76 in a first-round Northwest Conference playoff game Thursday night in a packed Sherwood Center.

Whitman improves to 19-7 on the season and will travel to Spokane, Wash., to face the Whitworth Missionaries on Saturday for the NWC finals. Tonight's loss ended Lewis & Clark's season at 18-8 and was the final game on the bench for long-time Pioneer coach Bob Gaillard, who won more than 500 games in his 22 seasons.

Junior Marcus Wells had a solid night for the Pioneers, scoring 37 points. Senior Kelly Edwards ended his career with 26 points while PJ Taylor chipped in 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds. 

Brandon Shaw combined 15 points with seven rebounds and five assists. Drew Raher just missed a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds.