Pirates pummel PLU, return to winning ways

Ryan Symes scored a game-high 23 points, and Kevin Hasenfus recorded a double-double as host Whitworth posted an 80-56 victory over Pacific Lutheran in a Northwest Conference men’s college basketball game Saturday night.

The sixth-ranked Pirates shook off their first loss of the season Friday against Puget Sound to improve to 14-1, 5-1 in the NWC. PLU is 6-7, 3-3.

“Looking back, we used last year as an example of what not to do,” Pirates senior Jon Young said. “We had a tough loss at UPS, and then we lost at PLU. That was a big motivator not to repeat that. Being down on that second day cost us a league championship.”

Symes and Hasenfus continuously attacked the Lutes’ porous interior throughout the contest. Symes’ superior athleticism led to several easy finishes around the basket, and Hasenfus displayed a hunger to collect every potential rebound that came his way. At 6-foot-7, Hasenfus was the tallest player on the court, and he played like it with 14 points and 13 rebounds (six offensive).

The Pirates made 31 of 54 shots (57 percent) from the floor and outrebounded PLU 36-20. The Lutes never got untracked and made 19 of 45 attempts (42 percent).

“Tonight was a character test,” Whitworth coach Jim Hayford said, “and I thought Kevin really led this team. I think he said, ‘They don’t have anybody who’s spent as much time in the weight room as me, and this lane is mine.’ “

“Any time you outrebound a team and limit them to one shot, it gives you a better opportunity to win,” Hasenfus said. “Coach challenged me … and told me to show some senior leadership. I took it as a personal challenge.”

Hasenfus and Symes combined for all of Whitworth’s points during a game-changing 15-1 run in the first half that turned a one-point deficit into a 36-23 lead. Hasenfus scored eight points during that spurt, Symes seven.

Whitworth led 40-31 at halftime, and the Lutes trimmed the deficit to 45-39 on Jared Brandeberry’s 3-pointer 4 minutes into the second half. But Whitworth remained steady and put the game out of reach with a 9-0 run to push its lead to 68-50.

Young, who finished with six points and a pair of 3-pointers, was questionable before tip-off with swelling in his right knee, but he said treatments during the day got him in condition.

“If I felt good enough, I wanted to go out there,” Young said, noting he’s had three knee surgeries in the past. “Back-to-back nights are always tough. … But we’ve got a lot of guys who played 40 (minutes) and have aches and pains.”

Colin Willemsen chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds for the Pirates.

Josh Dressler scored 14 of his team-high 19 points in the first half for PLU.

“Brian Morris recorded a double-double with a game-high 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead North Idaho College past Colorado Northwestern Community College 73-67 in Scenic West Athletic Conference play at Rangely, Colo.

Steven Wesley (Medical Lake) added 21 points, four rebounds and three steals for the Cardinals (11-5). Jamal Rolle scored eight points and hauled in 12 boards.

CNCC (5-11) cut the lead to 68-65 with 3 minutes left, but NIC responded with a pair of buckets to close out the game.

“Jake Swartzendruber scored a game-high 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field and 7-of-8 shooting from the line to lead Blue Mountain CC past Community Colleges of Spokane 92-82 in Northwest Athletic Association of Community College play at Pendleton, Ore.

Cody Dranginis shot 8 of 12 from the field, including 4 of 7 from the 3-point line on his way to 24 points for the Timberwolves. Todd Cook scored 13 points.

Eric Beal led the Sasquatch with 25 points on 8-of-19 shooting from the field and dished out 11 assists. Robert Lippman added 14 points and Brandon Hollibaugh chipped in 12.