SPOKANE, Wash. -- The Whitworth men's basketball team learned the hard lesson that its not how you start the game, but how you finish. And that lesson cost the Pirates its first loss of the season, as Puget Sound defeated Whitworth 77-72 in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game on Friday night at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

Symes' 23 points was not enough for the Bucs

The 6th-ranked Pirates (13-1 overall, 4-1 NWC) opened the game with a 17-4 run. But the 17th-ranked Loggers (11-2, 4-1) closed the game with a 17-6 run of their own.

A three point play by Kevin Hasenfus gave the Pirates a 17-4 lead halfway through the first half. The Loggers, who average 109 points per game, only made two baskets through the first 10 minutes of the game as they adjusted to Whitworth's zone defense. But the Loggers pulled back to within 25-24 on a three-pointer by Taylor Marsh with 2:19 left in the half. Whitworth went to the half with a 31-26 lead after closing with a 6-2 run.

The Pirates' biggest lead of the second half (37-30) came after another inside basket by Hasenfus almost three minutes into the period. But UPS went on a 10-2 run, including five points from Antwan Williams, to take its first lead of the game (40-39) with 13:57 to go.

The teams traded leads for the next seven minutes until an 8-0 run by the Pirates gave Whitworth a 66-60 advantage with 4:28 to go. But the Loggers then closed the game with their 17-6 run. After Ryan Symes tied the game for Whitworth for the last time with 1:31 to go, Robert Krauel and Jason Foster made key baskets to give UPS a four point lead, and after a Whitworth turnover, Krauel made a free throw for the final margin with 16 seconds left.

Marsh led the Loggers with 19 points, Krauel added 17 points and Jason Foster finished with 11 points and seven rebounds. UPS shot 51.8% from the field in the game, but 64.5% in the second half (including 15 of 16 from two point range).

Symes led Whitworth with a game-high 23 points, while Hasenfus tallied 19 points and eight boards. Bryan Williams scored 12 points and dished eight assists. The Pirates, who lead the nation in field goal percentage, shot 57.7% for the game.

UPS not only ended Whitworth's 13 game winning streak to open the season, the Loggers ended the Pirates 23 game regular season winning streak and 15 game home court winning streak.

UPS will travel to Walla Walla to take on Whitman College, while Whitworth hosts Pacific Lutheran tomorrow night. Both games begin at 8:00 pm.