BOX SCORE

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Lewis & Clark men's basketball team stunned Whitworth on Friday night in front of an enthusiastic Pioneer crowd, pulling out a 73-70 overtime win over the Pirates who are ranked 13th in the nation.  

The Pioneers move to 16-8 on the season and 9-6 in conference play, while the Pirates fall to 20-5 (14-2 NWC). With one game left in regular season action the Pioneers are still in the play-off hunt.

Bradley Carter led the Pioneers with a game-high 15 points, hitting 6-of-7 from the floor, while pulling down 10 rebounds for the teams only double-double. Connor Freeberg and Randall Jackson each scored 10 points in the win, while Quentin Sims ended the night with nine points and seven boards.

Dustin McConnell and Kenny Love each netted 15 points for the Pirates, while Taylor Farnsworth ended the night with 12 points.

Freeberg got things going in the Pioneers favor early on, laying one in just seconds into the contest. The two sides would exchange baskets throughout the majority of the half. Whitworth captured its largest lead of the half on a Love jumper with 12:24 until halftime, making it a 15-11 game.

A Freeberg layup earned the lead back for Lewis & Clark moments later. The Pioneers ended the final five minutes of the first half on a 12-3 run, which was capped off by a Kurt Paker layup.

Leading 38-29 heading into the second half, Sims earned the Pioneers their only double-digit lead of the contest with a quick jumper. The Pirates steadily began to chip away at the deficit, eventually recapturing the lead on an Adam Wilks jumper with 10:40 to play. The game remained close down the stretch with the Pirates never holding more than a four-point advantage. Trailing 64-60 with 1:19 to go, Serg Ovchinnikov nailed a clutch three-pointer, pulling the Pios within a point.

The Pirates put up a shot moments later but missed. Ben Neves came down with the rebound for Lewis & Clark and immediately found Carter. While going up for a shot, Carter was fouled, sending him to the free-throw line to shoot two. Carter missed his first opportunity but hit his second, tying the game at 64-64 with 51 seconds to play. Both teams had time to put up one more shot but neither side was able to put the ball through the net.

Whitworth hit the first two baskets of the overtime, taking a 68-64 lead. The Pioneers fought their way back into the game, recapturing the lead on a Jackson jumper with 30 seconds remaining. With a slim 71-70 advantage, Parker managed to drain back-to-back free-throws with eight seconds on the clock, assuring the Pio victory. 

Lewis & Clark returns to the court on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. against Whitman. The Pioneers will honor their three graduating seniors prior to the game.