SPOKANE, Wash. -- The most efficient offensive team in the nation turned to stifling defense in the Northwest Conference men's basketball tournament final on Saturday afternoon at the Whitworth Fieldhouse, and the host Pirates rode that effort to a 69-62 win over visiting Lewis & Clark. With the win Whitworth (23-3) earns the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Jon Young led the Pirates with 22 points

With the score tied 53-53 with just over seven minutes left in the game, the Pirates did not allow another Pioneer field goal until Gene Rivera scored inside with 19 seconds left and Whitworth up by ten points. L&C made four free throws during the seven minute span, while Jon Young scored five points in a 7-0 run that gave Whitworth a 60-53 lead with just over four minutes to play.

Lewis & Clark (19-7) quickly got within 60-56 when Mark Robinowitz was fouled shooting a three pointer and he made all three shots. But the Pirates responded with a 7-1 run over the next three minutes to gain a 67-57 lead with less than a minute to play, clinching the game.

Whitworth came out energized by its vocal home court crowd, taking an 18-10 lead on a jumper by Ryan Symes. But the steady Pioneers did not flinch and worked back with a 12-3 spurt of their own to take their first lead at 22-21 on a three pointer by Joey Taboni with five minutes to play in the period. There were three more lead changes in the half until Whitworth went to the locker rooms with a 35-34 edge.

The game remained close in the second half until the Pioneers' Thomas Tillery tied the game for the final time at 53-53 with a driving lay up with 7:20 to play.

Ryan Symes added 18 points for the Pirates

Whitworth held L&C to 34.8% (23/66) shooting from the field and 20.6% (7/34) shooting from three point range. The Pioneers' struggles extended to the free throw line where they made only 9 of 22 attempts (40.9%).

The Pirates, who came into the game shooting 53.1% from the field this season, made 46.2% (24/52) against a solid L&C defense. Whitworth shot only 29.4% (5/17) from the three point line, but made 16 of its 22 free throws (72.7%).

While Whitworth outrebounded L&C 43-40 overall, the Pioneers worked for 21 offensive rebounds, which helped account for their 14 extra shots in the game.

Young led all players with 22 points for the Pirates, making 4 of 9 three pointers. He was also 8-8 from the free throw line. Symes added 18 points and Colin Willemsen came off of the bench for 10 points. James Jones, Whitworth's leading scorer this season, scored only seven points but grabbed a game high 10 rebounds. Recently crowned NWC Player of the Year Bryan Williams finished with nine points, five assists and two steals.

Rivera led Lewis & Clark with 13 points on 6 of 10 shooting. Taboni scored 12 and Tillery and Robinowitz contributed 11 points each. Tillery was also the Pioneers' leading rebounder with eight.

The Pirates will find out both who and when they play in the NCAA tournament on Monday morning. The announcement will be made on NCAAsports.com at 6:00 am.

The last time the Pirates were in the NCAA Division III tournament was 2003.