WALLA WALLA, Wash. - For most of the night, Pacific (Ore.) University played right with 21st-ranked Whitman College, keeping the Missionaries in check. In what many considered to be a trap game, coming off of Tuesday night's upset win over the nation's top-ranked team, Whitman prevailed 88-75 over a physical Boxer team that would not quit.

Whitman's (18-3, 10-2 NWC) pace was slowed by the number of fouls that were called throughout the contest; between both teams 62 fouls were called and 77 free throws were attempted. "It was definitely hard to play at that pace," First year Montez White said. "But our coaches preach to keep up the pace no matter what adversity we have to go through. So we did our best to speed up the pace and keep running."

White led all scorers in the game with 18 points, shooting 11-for-13 from the free throw line. Jack Stewart shot an astounding 5-for-8 from three-point range and poured in 17 points. Tim Howell contributed 15 Missionary points and added seven rebounds and four assists in the process; while senior, Evan Martin played big in a game they needed him to. In just 21 minutes of play, Martin shot 3-of-4 for six points, but more importantly made his defensive presence known with three blocks and two steals. Austin Butler was the only other Whit player to score in double-figures as he finished with 10.

The Boxers used 16 offensive rebounds to race out to a six point lead early. Neither team shot particularly well in the opening minutes of the contest, as Whitman trailed 13-7, at the 12-minute mark. Just over four minutes later Howell converted a jumper that tied the game 17-17 and sparked a 17-6 run for the Missionaries.

Head coach Eric Bridgeland applauded the Boxers and the fight they showed throughout the night, "Pacific (10-10, 4-7 NWC) is really good. They play with a ton of heart, they board and they are so dangerous." Bridgeland then expressed how pleased he was to see his team battle through adversity, "I am so proud of the way we fought back. When you're not having a great day, your shots are flat, it's our fourth game in eight days and we still fought back. That's what good teams do."

Whitman entered the half with a 43-33 lead over the Pacific, but had to fight for every point and every possession. The Boxers held a 31-20 rebounding advantage over the Missionaries, but 11 forced turnovers led to 15 Whitman points as the defense stepped up big for the home team, holding Pacific to just 32-percent shooting in the first 20 minutes.

The contest saw more physicality in the second half which led to more whistles, as the officials were not going to let the game get out of hand. The Boxers and Missionaries combined for 50 second half free throws on 37 fouls. While Whitman converted just 62.5-percent of those shots, compared to Pacific's 84.6-percent, the Missionaries were able to move the ball offensively, accumulating 10 assists on 12 made shots, keeping their distance from the Boxers.

Stewart caught fire in the second half, after Pacific pulled the game from 17 back to four, Stewart showed he was still dialed-in from long distance, converting back-to-back threes and pushing the Whit lead back out to 10. From that point it was all Whitman as the Boxers were unable to close the gap down the stretch.

When asked how important Stewart and White's play was for the team, Bridgeland responded with one word, "Critical." "Montez (White) finds seams. In a game they were calling every foul, he was able to draw contact and get to the line," Bridgeland continued. "At halftime we told Jack (Stewart) not to pass up open looks and he responded well."

The Missionaries are now off for a week before playing back in the friendly confines of the Sherwood Center for the final time in regular season play. Whitman will play host to George Fox University and Willamette University in Friday, Saturday games.