BURLINGAME, Calif. -- Whitworth University and the University of Puget Sound each pulled out to big wins over Simpson College and Gustavus Adolphus College in non-conference men's basketball games on Sunday afternoon at Burlingame High School during the first day of the Ameriprise Whitworth Classic. While Whitworth overcame a slow start to pull away in the second half, UPS blitzed Gustavus into an early 20 point lead.

Whitworth 77, Simpson 56 - Click here for complete box score

Whitworth recovered from a slow start to defeat Simpson (Iowa) 77-56 in the opening game of the Ameriprise Whitworth Classic on Sunday afternoon at Burlingame High School.

Nate Montgomery led four Pirates (7-1) in double figures with 17 points. Calvin Jurich and David Riley each had 14 for 19th-ranked Whitworth, while Tim Sellereit came off of the bench for 12 points. Ross Nakamura dished nine assists for the Bucs.

Andrew Dau and Dave Johnson each scored 11 points to lead the Storm (4-6). David Ferezy led all players with seven rebounds.

Tim Dunlavy scored six quick points to spark Simpson to an 11-2 lead four minutes into the game. The lead was still 22-13 when Ferezy scored a lay in with just under eight minutes to go in the half. But Sellereit came off of the bench to hit a pair of three pointers to spark the Pirates back to a 25-25 tie. Whitworth took a 34-33 lead into the locker rooms.

Aromeo Grigsby nailed a three-pointer for the Storm to tie the game 47-47 with 14:47 to play, but it was the final tie of the game as the Pirates went on a 15-0 run. Riley hit back to back three-pointers during the streak and Simpson was not able to get the deficit under double digits the rest of the game.

Whitworth fueled its second half turnaround by shooting 56% from the floor in the period, including 50% (4-8) from three point range. Meanwhile the Storm shot only 37% in the second half.

Puget Sound 102, Gustavus Adolphus 79 - click here for complete box score

Austin Boyce scored 21 points and Jason Foster added 20 to lead 21st-ranked Puget Sound to a 102-79 win over Gustavus Adolphus in a non-conference men’s basketball game at the Ameriprise Whitworth Classic on Sunday afternoon at Burlingame High School.

The Loggers’ (6-2) full-court press forced 28 turnovers by the Gusties, including 17 in the second half to prevent any hope of a comeback.

Boyce scored 12 early points to lead UPS to a 23-6 lead just over six minutes into the game. Antwan Williams then connected on three straight three pointers late in the first half to give the Loggers a 54-30 lead. UPS went into the break with a 56-38 advantage.

Robert Schmidt hit a three-pointer for Gustavus to pull the Gusties within 64-50 with 15 minutes to play, but UPS went on a quick 8-0 run to stretch the lead back to 22 points. Sam Paulson converted a three-point play with 11:33 to play to get GAC within 73-57, but again the Loggers answered with a 10-0 run, including four points by Robert Krauel, to extend the lead out to 83-57 and UPS never led by less than 20 points the rest of the game.