By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Whitworth University ended the game with a 23-8 run, as the Pirates held off a comeback effort by Willamette University and defeated the Bearcats, 89-64, in a Northwest Conference Men's Basketball Tournament semifinal on Thursday, Feb. 26 at the Whitworth Fieldhouse. Willamette trailed by just 10 points with 7:45 remaining.

The Pirates, ranked #16 in the D3hoops.com Top25, improved to 23-3 on the season. Willamette concluded the year with a 10-16 overall mark after qualifying for the NWC Tournament for the first time since 2007-08.

George Valle led the Pirates with 17 points, as he hit 8 of 9 field goals. Christian Jurlina tacked on 16 points, five rebounds and five steals, while Adams Wilks finished with 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Kenny Love supplied Whitworth with 12 points, seven boards and eight assists.

Kyle McNally (Sr., F, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) scored a career-high 18 points for the Bearcats. He also hauled down a game-high 10 rebounds.

Brandon Luedtke (Jr., F, Meridian, ID/Mt. View HS) and Brendon McCullough (Fr., G, San Antonio, TX/Home Schooled) each added 12 points for Willamette. Luedtke grabbed five rebounds, while McCullough went 10 for 12 at the free throw line.

The Bearcats took an 8-5 lead in the first few minutes. Luedtke led the way with Willamette's first four points, while McCullough and McNally provided two points each.

A bit later, Willamette led 12-7 following another basket by Luedtke. Whitworth eventually took a 16-14 lead on a hook shot by Taylor Farnsworth with 12:15 on the clock, but the Bearcats surged back in from 18-16 following consecutive baskets by McNally.

The Pirates countered with a 17-5 run to claim a 33-23 advantage at the 5:26 mark. The run featured three 3-point baskets, including one by Love and two by Matt Staudacher.

Willamette got back within 35-27 on a 14-foot baseline jumper by McNally, but Whitworth increased its lead to 43-27 by building an 8-0 run, starting with a fast-break layup by Jurlina.

McCullough supplied the Bearcats with the final two points of the first period on a pair of free throws 24.3 seconds before halftime. Whitworth as in front 43-29 at the intermission.

Valle topped the Pirates at halftime with 11 points on 5-of-6 field goal shooting. McNally had 10 points at the break for Willamette. He was 5 of 7 from the field and also earned five rebounds and a blocked shot during the half.

The teams exchanged baskets early in the second half, but the Pirates went on a 7-2 run, ending with two fast-break baskets to take a 52-35 lead with 16:51 remaining. Luedtke answered with a layup on a fast-break for Willamette just over a minute later for the game's next points.

A driving layup by Bridger Harlington (Jr., Wing, Lake Tapps, WA/Auburn Riverside HS) pulled Willamette within 52-39 at the 15:06 mark. That basket started a 5-1 run that cut the deficit to 64-52 with 9:08 left.

McCullough tacked on four consecutive points during two trips to the free throw line a bit later, as the Bearcats crept back within 10 points with 7:45 on the clock. A shot in the lane by Valle and a free throw by Wilks increased Whitworth's lead to 69-56 and started a 10-1 run by the Pirates, who led 76-57 with 5:28 to go.

Whitworth shot 51.5% for the game (34 of 66), including 7 of 13 on 3-point attempts (53.8%). The Pirates converted 73.7% of their free throws (14 of 19) and held a 39-32 rebounding margin.

The Bearcats connected on 39.6% from the field (21 of 53), while hitting just 3 of 19 three-pointers. Willamette sank 19 of 26 free throws.

Whitworth will host Lewis & Clark College in the NWC Championship game on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. (PST). Lewis & Clark defeated Whitman College in the other semifinal, 82-73, in Walla Walla, Wash.