The Whitworth men’s basketball squad was eliminated from the NCAA Division III Men’s Tournament with a 71-63 loss to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders last Saturday in the Whitworth Fieldhouse. The Pirates end their season with a 26-4 record, including two NCAA Tournament wins and a Northwest Conference Championship.

“Sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way,” Whitworth head coach Matt Logie said. “They did everything we asked them to. At some point, you aren’t going to make every shot. Give credit to Mary Hardin-Baylor; we came in knowing it would be a battle and a war, and unfortunately we couldn’t close it out.”

The Pirates opened the game with a 10-2 run, fueled by seven points from freshman forward George Valle. But the Crusaders countered with a 10-0 run of their own and led the last 10 minutes of the first half. By halftime, the UMHB lead was stretched to nine in part because of nine points from junior guard James Allen.

The Crusaders shot 51.9 percent from the field in the first half, compared to their season average per game of 45.2 percent. On the other end of the spectrum, the Pirates shot well below their season average from the field (51.2 percent) and from beyond the arc (39.2 percent), with 34.6 and 31.3 percent, respectively. UMHB outscored the Pirates in the paint 16-2 in the first half. The score was 33-24 at halftime, tying a season-low first half point total for Whitworth.

In the second half, the Crusaders got their lead up to 12 when the Pirates began to make a run. Sparked by a Valle lay-up, the Pirates made up the double-digit deficit with baskets from junior guards Dustin McConnell and Colton McCargar. The game remained close until there was less than a minute left, when the Crusaders sunk six free throws after the Pirates missed their opportunities to seal the game. Allen finished with a game-high 21 points and five rebounds for the Crusaders, while McCargar led the Pirates with 20 points off the bench. McConnell ended the game with 13 points, all of which came in the second half. It was only the second time the Pirates had allowed fewer than 80 points to their opponent and lost this season.

“At times like these, you learn that it’s about a lot more than the game,” Logie said. “I couldn’t be prouder of our effort.”

The Pirates shot better from the field in the second half, but were still almost four percentage points below their season average. Overall, Whitworth shot below their season average marks in field goal, free throw and three-point percentages, while UMHB bettered its season marks in those three shooting categories.

For seniors Wade Gebbers, Mack Larkin and Zach Payne, their careers as Pirates have come to an end.

“I’m lucky to have an experience like Whitworth,” Larkin said. “It’s tough to see the bigger picture right now, but when it’s all said and done there will be nothing but good memories from here.”

Despite ending the night with three points, Gebbers led all players with eight assists in his final game for Whitworth.

“The game is about a lot more than just basketball,” Gebbers said. “It’s great to be a part of a team like this. It’s going to be hard to say goodbye to everybody, but we’re all really excited about where our season went. Unfortunately, it ended tonight, but the relationships we have made will not.”

Payne came off the bench for three points, three steals and a pair of rebounds in 20 minutes of action. However, Payne’s line does not give a valid indication of his influence in this game, forcing key turnovers with his hustle to halt a Crusader run and provide fast break opportunities for the Pirates late in the game.

“It’s extremely emotional to take off that jersey and those shoes for the last time,” Payne said. “Right now it’s tough to think positive, but in a couple weeks we’ll be able to look back at the good memories.”

“They’ve meant so much to our program and to me personally as a coach with their leadership, toughness and determination,” Logie said. “I thought all of those things were clearly exhibited tonight although we fell a little bit short. I’m proud of the legacy they will leave for our underclassmen and they should be very proud of what they accomplished at Whitworth.”

Contact Korey Hope at [email protected]