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Jones made 8-10 shots to score 21 points

WALLA WALLA , Wash. -- Whitworth moved within a half game of first place in the NWC standings by winning 88-74 at Whitman on Tuesday night in a Northwest Conference men's basketball contest.

The Pirates (18-6 overall, 12-3 NWC) won their ninth straight game and moved closer to Willamette and Puget Sound (both 12-2) in the standings. Those two teams play on Friday night. Whitman fell to 9-14 and 5-10.

Reserve guard James Jones came off of the bench to spark the Pirates to a big first half lead. He made all four of his three point attempts in the first half to help Whitworth turn a 21-19 deficit with just over eight minutes to play in the first half into a 47-31 Pirate lead at halftime. He scored 14 of his game-high 21 points in the first half.

The Pirates took their largest lead of 76-54 with just under 10 minutes to play after a jumper by Lance Pecht. But Whitman closed with within 86-74, but there was only 1:34 to play in the game. The Missionaries missed their final three three point attempts and could get no closer.

Jones was 8 of 10 from the field and 5-6 from three point range to account for his game-high total. Kevin Hasenfus posted 20 points and nine rebounds and Lance Pecht also scored 20 on 9-11 shooting. It is the first time this season Whitworth has had three players reach 20 points in the same game. Bryan Williams, who scored the first seven points of the game for Whitworth, finished with 14 points. Jon Young and George Tucker each dished six assists. Whitworth shot 58% (35-60) from the field and 53% (10-19) from three point range.

Whitman posts Kyle Born and Erik Kofler each scored 15 to lead the Missionaries and both pulled down 10 boards to post double double efforts.

Whitworth has now won the last 14 meetings in the series. The Pirates will play at Pacific University on Saturday at 6:00 pm with a chance to clinch at least the second seed in the NWC tournament. Whitman concludes its season at Pacific on Friday night.