SPOKANE, Wash. — Lewis & Clark College men's basketball knocked off top-seeded Whitworth University 71-64 on Friday night in the semifinals of the Northwest Conference Tournament at the Whitworth Fieldhouse. The victory ended the Pirates' 20-year run of championship game appearances and snapped a 22-game losing streak for the Pioneers.

THE BASICS

Northwest Conference Semifinal #2
#4 Lewis & Clark 71, #1 Whitworth 64
(Lewis & Clark 14-12, 9-7 NWC)
(Whitworth 22-4, 13-3 NWC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Seniors Mikey Medlock Jr. and Sam Henderson combined for 41 points to lead Lewis & Clark to its first NWC semifinal win since 2015. Medlock Jr. led all scorers with 24 points, shooting 66.7% (8-for-12) from the floor and 6-for-8 from the free-throw line. Henderson provided a spark off the bench in the second half, scoring 13 of his 17 points after the break. He shot 6-for-11 from the field and 80% (4-for-5) from the line.

The Pioneers set the tone early with a tough defensive effort, forcing Whitworth into a cold start as the Pirates missed 10 of their first 11 shots. Despite the defensive stops, Lewis & Clark's offense took time to find its rhythm, managing only a 9-5 lead in the first six minutes.

Whitworth briefly took a 13-12 lead after a three-pointer from Colton Looney, but Lewis & Clark responded with a decisive 12-4 run. Senior Griffin Datcher IV knocked down a jumper, and junior Kody Uyesugi drilled a three-pointer just before the shot clock buzzer to give the Pioneers their largest lead of the half at 24-17.

Trailing 26-19, the Pirates countered with an 8-0 run, holding Lewis & Clark scoreless for nearly four minutes to reclaim the lead at 27-26. Medlock Jr. answered with a driving layup in the final minute, sending the Pioneers into halftime with a 28-27 advantage.

Lewis & Clark never trailed in the second half. A quick 8-2 run, capped by senior Isaac Ticeson's layup (nine points, nine rebounds), extended the lead to 42-34. Whitworth pulled within 42-40 on a jump shot from Ben Nyquist at the 11:38 mark. The Pirates had a chance to tie the game less than 30 seconds later, but the Pioneers' defense held firm, and junior Andre Treadwell (nine points, four rebounds) secured a key defensive rebound.

The Pioneers then went on an 18-6 run, sparked by back-to-back baskets from Treadwell. Henderson contributed nine points during the stretch, while junior Taien Jackson (seven points, two steals) added another bucket. Ticeson capped the run with two free throws at the 5:01 mark, pushing Lewis & Clark's lead to 60-46.

Whitworth made one final push, trimming the deficit to 66-62 with just over a minute remaining. After a turnover, the Pirates had a chance to make it a one-possession game, but Jake Holtz's open three-point attempt rimmed out. Medlock Jr. responded with two clutch free throws, sealing the upset victory. Henderson put the finishing touch on the night with a breakaway dunk as time expired.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Ticeson controlled the paint with a team-high nine rebounds. Henderson followed with six, while senior Nate Berg added five.
• Lewis & Clark snapped a 22-game losing streak to Whitworth. The Pioneers' last win over the Pirates came at home on Feb. 21, 2014.
• This was Lewis & Clark's first win in Spokane since Jan. 21, 2005, and only its third victory over Whitworth since 2000.
• The last time Whitworth failed to make the NWC final, Lewis & Clark defeated Linfield 101-88 for the championship in 2001.
• The last time the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds met in the championship game, No. 4 Willamette defeated No. 3 Linfield 77-70 in 2000.

WHAT'S NEXT

Lewis & Clark will play for the Northwest Conference Championship on Saturday at 6 p.m. against third-seeded Whitman College. The Pioneers are seeking their first NWC Tournament title since 2011 and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.