The Missionaries seized an early 8-0 lead just 3:03 after the opening tip. Clay Callahan set the early tone with a steal and layin only 15 seconds in, Matt Mournier converted a drive to the hoop, and Evan Martin recorded back-to-back follows after Whitman misses.

The eight-point advantage was mirrored at the 11:12 mark on a Jackson Clough (So., Seattle, Wash./Seattle Prep) jumper that created a 23-15 count and on a Sean Hays (Fr., Portland, Ore./La Salle) bunny that resulted in a 25-17 score with 10:49 on the clock. The Loggers ripped off a 9-1 blitz to knot things up at 26-26. Nick Holden's in-deep bucket with 8:52 left was the equalizer.

Whitman chopped down the Loggers' momentum with a 13-2 spree after that. Mournier, who tallied 12 of his team-high 19 points in the first half, drilled a straight-on three pointer with 6:22 to go that put the Missionaries in front 39-28. The lead swelled to 13, 42-29, on a Hays free throw 4:04 before halftime.

Puget Sound put a slight dent in the deficit, thanks in part to a 9-for-10 showing from the free throw line in the final 4:04 of period one, and closed to within nine, 49-40, at intermission.

UPS came within seven, 51-44, on a Rex Nelson jumper with 17:31 to go before Whitman responded with 11 straight points. Mounier drilled two charity tosses with 12:46 remaining to boost the Missionaries to an 18-point cushion, 62-44.

"Every time down we got what we wanted and put ourselves in good situations on the floor," Mounier said. The Loggers would not go away. It took UPS 10 minutes and change to wipe out Whitman's seemingly insurmountable lead. Erin Barber put down a three-point shot with 2:31 to go that gave UPS a 78-75 edge.

Whitman got a jumper from Josh Duckworth with 2:11 remaining and, after two missed free throws by the Loggers' A.J. Maw and an exchange of turnovers, Mounier canned a trey from the left wing with 1:13 on the clock to tip the balance of the contest back in Whitman's favor, 80-78.

Two freebies by the Loggers' Dan Cheledinas with 56.7 seconds left tied the game at 80-80.

Each team registered a two-point basket on their next offensive sequences. Whitman had a final chance at victory in regulation. But a right-angle 3 at the buzzer by Mounier clanked off the rim to set the stage for bonus time. The Missionaries took an 88-84 lead in the extra session on a Tochi Oti drive with 1:29 remaining.

Two free throws by Maw and another by James Osorio cut the Loggers' disadvantage to one, 88-87, but the visitors would not dent the scoreboard again. Two charity tosses by Martin with 31.3 ticks left made it 90-87. Four more free throws, two each by Dominic Lippi and Mounier in the final 16.6 seconds ended the scoring for the evening.

Oti and Martin aided Whitman with 14 points apiece. LuQuam Thompson added 13 points and Duckworth chipped in with 10.

"We kept our composure and knew what we had to do to win the game," Mounier said. "We've been battle tested."

Whitman hosts Pacific Lutheran Saturday at 6 p.m.