SPOKANE, Wash. -- Down 16 points in the first half, Lewis & Clark was unable to come back and dropped their third conference game of the season, 98-91, to the Whitworth Pirates on Friday night at Whitworth Fieldhouse.

Whitworth opened up to a 21-point first-half lead and eventually led 52-36 at halftime.

In the second half, the Pioneers (4-8, 0-3 NWC) were able to battle back to within seven. Eight minutes in, Nick Lombardi hit a 3-pointer that was followed up by a layup from Daelon Floyd to bring the Pios within 11. Mak Hutson then made a 3-pointer of his own after two made free throws by Whitworth's Kyle Roach to bring the Pioneers within 10. Coming off the bench, Andrew Panicacci made two consecutive 3-pointers and Lewis & Clark within seven points. Whitworth (11-1; 3-0 NWC) was then able to hold the lead to close out the game.

Andrew Vickers finished with a double-double and a career-high 28 points with 10 rebounds. Hutson added 15 points and Nico Bricker added 14, but the Pioneers were outshot 51-45 percent from the field.

Off the bench, Floyd had 11 points with eight rebounds and Panicacci had seven points.

The Pioneers play at No. 1 Whitman on Saturday at 6 p.m.