SPOKANE, Wash. -- For the second night in a row Whitworth University used blanket defense and strong rebounding to defeat a Northwest Conference men's basketball opponent. This time the Pirates topped visiting Pacific University 61-44 on Saturday night in the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

Willemsen had 17 points to lead the Pirates

As in Friday night's win over Lewis & Clark, the Whitworth defense made making shots for the Boxers difficult, holding Pacific to 33% (15-45) from the floor, including 20% (3-15) from three point range. Also like Friday night, the Pirates nearly doubled Pacific on the boards, finishing with a 45-24 advantage. In fact, Whitworth grabbed more offensive rebounds (19) than the Boxers had defensive rebounds (18).

The Pirates came into the weekend leading the Northwest Conference in scoring defense, shooting percentage defense (overall and three-point) and rebounding margin.

Joe Van Domelen's inside basket gave Pacific its final lead of the game at 4-2. David Riley (Fr., G, Palo Alto, Calif.) scored five of Whitworth's next seven points as the Pirates took a 9-4 lead and never trailed again. Ryan Symes (Sr., F, Palo Alto, Calif.) scored inside to give Whitworth its largest lead (28-13) of the first half, before Van Domelen scored again to pull Pacific within 30-18 at halftime.

Pacific was still within 37-25 with 15:37 left in the game after a basket by Gerald Howe. But Whitworth went on a 13-3 run to open up a 50-28 lead with 10:30 to play. Colin Willemsen (Sr., F, Moraga, Calif.) had seven of those points for the Pirates. Pacific was not able to threaten again.

Symes and Willemsen each finished with 17 points to lead the Pirates, and had 10 and 9 rebounds, respectively. Both also had four assists. Riley added 15 points while making 3-6 from three-point range.

Van Domelen led the Boxers with 17 points and was the only Pacific player to reach double figures in scoring. Ryan Turcott led Pacific with five rebounds.

Whitworth (9-3 overall, 3-1 NWC) will head west to play Pacific Lutheran on Friday and Puget Sound on Saturday next weekend. Pacific (3-10, 1-3) will return home to host Linfield (Friday) and George Fox (Saturday).