BOX SCORE

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Lewis & Clark men's basketball team put together a strong first half of action against the #11 Whitworth Pirates on Saturday evening, but were unable to hold off the Pirates in the second half, falling 79-59.

The loss drops the Pioneers to 10-9 overall and 5-5 in Northwest Conference action. The Pirates improve to 16-3 on the season and remain the top team in the NWC with a 9-1 record.

Senior Donato Perconti led the Pioneers offensively, coming off the bench to score a team-high 11 points. Senior PJ Taylor finished the night with 10 points, while Marcus Wells and freshman Bradley Carter each scored eight. Carter added a team-high five rebounds to his eight points. Scott Pisapia also pulled down a team-high five boards for the Pios.

Felix Friedt led the way for the Pirates with a game-high 20 points and eight boards. Idris Lasisi finished the night with 16 points, while teammate Wade Gebbers scored 13.

The Pirates opened the game with a surging 15-3 run that lasted nearly four minutes. Down 25-14 with 11:57 left in the half, the Pioneers began to come alive, slowly digging out of the hole. Hollins brought the Pios within two points, 30-28, at the 7:59 mark with a three pointer from the corner.

Back-to-back layups by junior Ross Erickson handed the Pioneers their first lead of the game, 38-36, with just over four minutes left in the first half. An 8-3 Whitworth run put the Pirates back on top 46-41 with 11 seconds until halftime. Taylor pulled Lewis & Clark within two points, 46-44, heading into the locker room with a confident three point shot.

Whitworth opened the second half very similar to the first with a strong 11-4 run. Ahead 57-48 the Pirates never took their foot off the gas pedal, only allowing the Pios 15 second half points.  

Lewis & Clark returns to action on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. against George Fox in Newberg, Ore.