BOX SCORE

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Lewis & Clark men's basketball team ended the first half of Northwest Conference action on Saturday night with a road game at Whitworth. The Pirates won the game 81-65 against the visiting Pioneers.

The loss drops the Pioneers to 12-5 on the season and 5-3 in conference play. The Pioneers are now in a three-way tie for third place in the NWC. The Pirates are now in full possession of first place with a 7-1 conference standing and 13-4 overall record.

Kurt Parker led the Pioneers with 15 points, while Connor Freeberg finished the night with 14 points. Sophomore Serg Ovchinnikov knocked down 10 points in the loss and senior Quentin Sims scored eight. Sims led the Pioneers with a team-high five rebounds, while Freeberg, Parker and Jason Luhnow each pulled down four boards.

Dustin McConnell led all players with 16 points. Taylor Farnsworth ended the game with the only double-double, scoring 11 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.

The Pioneers were never able to hold the lead, falling behind early in the first half. The Pioneers were able to make it a two point, 24-22, game with 5:23 remaining until halftime on one of Parkers three three-pointers. However, Whitworth put the pressure on in the remaining minutes, taking a 42-28 lead into the half.

Whitworth controlled the second half, but the Pioneers put up a good fight. Sims was able to pull Lewis & Clark within eight points with 9:08 on the clock with a basket from downtown. That would be as close as the Pioneers would get to the Pirates, eventually suffering the loss.

Lewis & Clark starts the second half of conference on Friday, Jan. 31 with a home contest against Pacific Lutheran. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.