SPOKANE, Wash. - One expected hero, and one unexpected hero, lifted Whitworth University to a 96-69 win over University of Puget Sound in the Northwest Conference tournament championship game on Saturday night in the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

Ryan Symes

Northwest Conference Player of the Year Ryan Symes (Sr., F, Palo Alto, Calif.) tied his career high with 33 points to lead the Pirates to the win. Calvin Jurich (Jr., P, Spokane, Wash.) added career highs in both points (17) and rebounds (10) to post his first career double-double for the Bucs, leading Whitworth to its second consecutive NCAA Division III tournament berth and third all-time.

After a back and forth first half, Whitworth rolled to a 55-35 advantage in the second half by holding the Loggers to 26.3% shooting in the half and outrebounding UPS 26-15 after halftime.

David Riley (Fr., G, Palo Alto, Calif.) made three three-pointers in the first six minutes of the game to help Whitworth take a 15-5 lead. But the Loggers fought back, eventually pulling within 19-17 on a three-pointer by Taylor Marsh with 10:35 to play. The Pirates went back up 30-23 after a basket by Symes before UPS went on an 11-2 run, including five points by Jason Foster, to take a 34-32 lead. Whitworth then ended the half on a 9-0 run, including another three-pointer by Riley just before the buzzer, to take a 41-34 lead into the locker rooms.

Calvin Jurich

The lead was still seven points (43-36) when the Pirates took control with a 17-2 burst that increased the lead to 60-38 with 11:29 to go in the game. Symes had five points, while Ross Nakamura (Jr., G, Moraga, Calif.) and Tim Sellereit (Jr., G, Bellingham, Wash.) each hit three pointers during the stretch. The Pirates eventually led by as many as 27 points after a pair of free throws by Symes with 1:18 to go.

Whitworth shot 53% from the field (27-51) and 47% from three point range (9-19). The Pirates finished with a 41-30 rebounding advantage. Riley scored 18 points while making 5 of 9 three-point shots. Colin Willemsen (Sr., F, Moraga, Calif.) added six points and a game-high eight assists.

Antwan Williams scored 16 of his team-high 19 points after halftime, while Marsh finished with 18 points. Foster totaled 10 points and nine rebounds and Robert Krauel chipped in 12 points off of the bench. The Loggers shot 32% (21-65) from the floor during the game, including 23% (7-30) from three point range. UPS was 1-16 (6.3%) from beyond the arc in the second half.

Whitworth will find out on Monday morning where and when it will play the first round of the NCAA Division III tournament.