Photo Taken By: Shelby Byerly

By: Ryan Lackey

NEWBERG, Ore. --- Thomas Rico dropped 12 points for the Bruins in their 91-57 home loss to NWC pacesetters and No. 1-ranked Whitworth on Saturday night. The Pirates remain undefeated and still at the top of the Div. III rankings.

Recap:
Despite Whitworth's formidable record this season, the Bruins stuck to their gameplan and shot well through the first half, hitting at a 42% clip from deep. The Pirates, though, began too quickly for the Bruins to match, opening the game with a 21-7 run. The Bruins did well to keep the game within reach, though, and late in the first half a bullseye three from reliable shooter Joshua Caddel captured some momentum for the hosts.

In the second half, the Bruins couldn't quite shoot at the same rate, and Whitworth raced on unchecked. The 91-57 final scoreline is a credit to the Bruins' offensive ability against an elite defense. Three times this season, the Pirates have held opponents to 50 points or fewer.

Top Performers:
Thomas Rico stood out for the Bruins offensively, going 3-6 from three and proving a legitimate shooting threat. Fellow guards Jonathan Doutt and JJ Lacey had nine points each; Lacey added three rebounds. Once again, specialist Joshua Caddel was on-target, going 2-3 from beyond the arc.

What It Means:
At 5-10 overall and 2-4 in conference, the Bruins still sit in seventh in the NWC, ahead of rival Linfield. Whitworth's record remains unblemished, and they still top the NWC.

What Comes Next:
The Bruins will look to rebound after a tough home weekend on Tuesday at Willamette.