Pacific (OR) Pac 5-7,1-1 NWC

Whitman Whitm 6-5,1-0 NWC

Pacific (OR) Pac

5-7,1-1 NWC

Final

Jan. 02, 2026

Whitman Whitm

6-5,1-0 NWC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Pacific (OR) Pac	47	41	88
Whitman Whitm	42	50	92

Summary
Box Score

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 1/2/2026 10:09:00 PM

Men's Basketball Turns In Gritty WIn Over Pacific In NWC Opener

WALLA WALLA, Wash. - The Whitman College men's basketball team opened Northwest Conference play with a hard-fought 92-88 comeback win over Pacific on Friday night at the Sherwood Center.

Trailing 47-42 at halftime, the Blues surged in the second half with a 50-point effort to erase an 11-point deficit and secure the victory in front of the home crowd. The result moved Whitman to 6-5 overall and 1-0 in conference, while Pacific fell to 5-7 and 1-1 in NWC action.

Ken Higgins headlined the night for Whitman, pouring in a career-high 21 points behind a blistering performance from beyond the arc, where he connected on seven three-pointers. The Blues' offense was exceptionally balanced, with six players reaching double figures as Whitman shot 63% from the field and 53.8% from distance. On the other side, Pacific's Anthony Hrboka led all scorers with 22 points, scoring 11 in each half to keep the Boxers in contention throughout.

Pacific controlled much of the first half, using a 47-point opening frame and an eight-point lead late in the period to take a 47-42 advantage into the locker room. Early in the second half, the Boxers stretched the margin to 59-48, their largest lead of the night, before Whitman began its decisive response. The Blues chipped away behind timely perimeter shooting and improved interior defense, gradually turning the game's momentum.

A key stretch came as Whitman put together an 8-0 run to close the gap to a single possession, highlighted by finishes at the rim from Bernard Dzesi and Jacob Fotu and another deep make from Higgins. With the game later tied at 72-72, Higgins rose up for a three-pointer from the wing to give the Blues a lead they would not relinquish.

From there, Whitman repeatedly answered Pacific's pushes, matching baskets and getting critical stops in the final four minutes. Dzesi provided the final exclamation point in the last seconds, racing out in transition for a fast-break dunk that sealed the 92-88 final margin and capped an emphatic second-half rally in the conference opener.

Whitman continues Northwest Conference play tomorrow night against Willamette. Tipoff at the Sherwood Center is set for 5:00 p.m.

#GoWhitman

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