REDLANDS, Calif. -- Whitworth built a 12-point lead late in the game, but then had to hold off a last-minute rally to defeat Cal State East Bay 85-80 in the opening game of the Lee Fulmer Classic men's basketball tournament hosted by the University of Redlands.
Nate Montgomery (Jr., P, Sammamish, Wash.) scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the 15th-ranked Pirates (5-0) to the win, while Calvin Jurich (Sr., P, Spokane, Wash.) added 17 points and David Riley (So., G, Palo Alto, Calif.) finished with 11 points. Tauran Moore came off of the bench to score 31 points, including six three-pointers, for the Pioneers (1-2), who had not played a game since November 22nd. Fabian Baker added 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds, also off of the bench. After falling behind by two points early, Whitworth led much of the first half, shooting 55.6% from the floor in the period. But East Bay was nearly as hot, making 51.5%. Riley scored all 11 of his points in the first half, hitting 3 of 4 from three-point range. East Bay regained a one-point lead early in the second half before the Pirates began to pull away. Whitworth took its largest lead of the game at 76-64 with 2:44 to play before the Pioneers closed to within 78-75 with 40 seconds to play. But Tim Sellereit (Sr., G, Bellingham, Wash.) and Ross Nakamura (Sr., G, Moraga, Calif.) hit important free throws in the final 30 seconds to secure the win. Whitworth score nearly half of its points in the second period from the free throw line (19 of 43). Whitworth advances to tomorrow night's 6:00 p.m. semifinal against either Claremont-Mudd-Scripps or Southwestern (Ariz.). Go to Athletics Home Page > Men's Basketball > Sports Releases > |
