TACOMA, Washington – Mussie Teclemariam scored a team-high 20 points, and Taj Phillips notched his second double-double of the season as the Puget Sound men's basketball team beat Whitworth, 82-75, in Memorial Fieldhouse Saturday night.
 
It was Puget Sound's first win over Whitworth since Feb. 2019, and just the Loggers' second win over the Pirates since March 2009.
 
Early on the Pirates appeared poised to continue their winning ways against the Loggers, taking a 16-9 lead just over five minutes into the game. Puget Sound kept pace Whitworth, and the Loggers took a 27-25 lead when Teclemariam hit a 3-pointer with three mintes left in the first half.
 
Puget Sound held a 31-30 lead at halftime.
 
The Pirates fought back to take a 40-37 lead four minutes into the second half. However, Dezman Baker capitalized on an and-one, and Grant Erickson scored in the paint to allow the Loggers to reclaim the lead, 42-40.
 
The Pirates tied up the game, 47-47, but Liam Ruttledge earned a trip to the free-throw line with 11:37 on the clock. He knocked down both opportunities, and Whitworth never led for the rest of the game.
 
The Loggers held a five-point lead, 73-68 with just over one minute remaining when Phillips converted an emphatic three-point play to all but seal the win. The Loggers shot 7-for-10 from the free-throw line in the final minute of the game.
 
Philips added 10 rebounds and six assists in the winning effort. Ruttledge scored 16 points, and Mathews added 11 off the bench.
 
Puget Sound remains home to host Whitman Saturday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m.