Whitman’s bid to climb into first place in the Northwest Conference (NWC) fell short this past weekend, but back-to-back career nights from senior David Michaels helped the men’s basketball team salvage a split and stay in the mix in a logjam for second place in the Northwest Conference.  Whitman improved to 14-5 on the season and 7-3 in conference, leaving the Missionary men tied for second place with the University of Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran University, just two games behind first-place Whitworth.

Michaels scored 71 points over the course of two games en route to earning a place on the D3hoops.com national team of the week.

Arguably the biggest games in the season for the Missionary men will come this weekend when PLU and UPS come to Walla Walla for a pair of games. Two wins could vault Whitman into first place; losses would drop them out of the Conference title picture.

Pacific Lutheran University and University of Puget Sound visit George Ball Court Friday and Saturday, respectively. Both games start at 8 p.m.