SPOKANE, Wash. - Facing their toughest test of Northwest Conference play, the 12th-ranked Puget Sound Loggers held off the 24th-ranked Whitworth Pirates, 89-77, in a NWC men's basketball game on Friday night at Whitworth Fieldhouse in Spokane, Wash.

In the first half, the Pirates took the advantage following some early Logger turnovers.  Senior Robert Krauel (Phoenix, Ariz./North Canyon) took control early on for Puget Sound, scoring six of the Loggers' first nine points to keep UPS in the game.  Back-to-back three-pointers by junior Austin Boyce (Kent, Wash./Kentwood) gave the Loggers back a lead with about 12 minutes to go in the first half.  A 13-4 run gave the Loggers a ten-point lead with a little under seven minutes to go.  The Loggers then pushed the lead to 14 heading into the break, 48-34.

In the second half, the Bucs fought back, getting back within five with a little over 12 minutes to go in the game.  Puget Sound, who entered the game 9-0 when leading at halftime, continued to hold off the Bucs, maintaining small leads throughout the period.  In the end, the Bucs simply ran out of gas as Puget Sound collected the 89-77 victory to remain perfect in NWC play.

The Loggers were led by 18 points and 10 rebounds from Krauel.  Boyce finished with 16 points while Jason Foster (Spanaway, Wash./Henry Foss) chipped in 14.  Bryce Levin (Everett, Wash.) hit four from behind the arc for 12 points.  Antwan Williams (Portland, Ore./Madison) added seven assists to his school record, while also adding 12 points.

Nate Montgomery led the Pirates with 22 points on the night, also picking up 10 rebounds.  David Riley added 14 points while Calvin Jurich finished with 13 points. 

The Loggers heads to Walla Walla on Saturday to take on former head coach Eric Bridgeland and the Whitman Missionaries.

 Box Score