Complete box score

TACOMA, Wash. – Whitworth could not repeat recent history on Saturday as the visiting Pirates fell 84-72 at Puget Sound in the second round of the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball tournament.

David Riley

Twenty-first ranked Whitworth, one week after knocking off the Loggers in the Northwest Conference tournament final, finished with a 23-6 record. Seventh-ranked UPS improved to 25-3 and will take on top-ranked St. Thomas (Minn.) at next week’s NCAA Sectional Semifinals.

Saturday night’s first half was as even as possible, other than at the free throw line. The Loggers led 33-29 and went 10 for 10 at the line, while the Pirates were 5 of 8. Otherwise both teams made 11 of 26 shots from the floor (42.3%). Rebounds (UPS 17, Whitworth 16), fouls (UPS 10, Whitworth 9) and turnovers (UPS 6, Whitworth 7) were nearly as even. UPS took its largest lead of the half at 29-21 on a three-pointer by Steffond Brown with 3:35 to play, but the Pirates answered with a jumper by Ross Nakamura and a three-pointer by David Riley to pull back within three. Whitworth survived a last second attempt by Antwan Williams to stay within four at the break.

Playing short two starters from a week ago, Whitworth looked like it might make a run at a win early in the second half. The Pirates opened the second half on a 7-2 run, including a long three by Riley, to take a 36-35 lead, the Bucs’ first of the game. The teams traded baskets over the next four minutes until UPS made the decisive run of the game. Leading 42-41, the Loggers went on a 9-0 run to open up their first double-digit lead of the game on a put-back by Jason Foster with 11:58 to go. UPS held the Pirates at arms-length from that point, taking a 63-50 lead on another basket by Foster with 7:01 to go. Whitworth’s last gasp went in-and-out as Jordan Call’s three-pointer with the Bucs trailing by nine with three minutes left just missed.

Foster, the 2009 NWC Player of the Year, had 27 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Loggers. He was 15 of 16 from the free throw line. Austin Boyce made 10 of 11 shots to finish with 21 points and Williams added 15 for UPS.

Riley also scored 27 to lead Whitworth, while Nate Montgomery added 18 points and six boards. Nakamura finished with 12 points and four assists in his final game. Whitworth played its second NCAA game without Clay Gebbers, who suffered his second concussion of the season last weekend against UPS. Calvin Jurich did not start, but still gutted out 18 minutes while playing with a torn MCL in his left knee – an injury he suffered against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Thursday.

The Pirates finished the 2008-09 season with their third straight NCAA Division III tournament appearance and fourth overall.