By Christian Bond, PLU Sports Information Student Writer
PARKLAND – Tuesday night's 2015-16 home opener turned out to be a historic game for the Pacific Lutheran men's basketball team as PLU set or tied four program records in a 130-52 nonconference win over Northwest Indian College at Names Family Court.
PLU's 130 points broke the previous program record of 119, set back in 1989 against Concordia (Ore.). The Lutes scored 68 points in the first half, tying the program record for scoring in a half set during the 2007-08 season against Lewis & Clark. With 55 made field goals Tuesday, PLU broke the previous record of 50 set during the 1980-81 season against Concordia (Ore.). And the oldest record the Lutes set was the largest victory margin, as PLU's 78-point margin was 20 points more than the previous record 58-point win over Alaska during the 1952-53 season.
"These kids deserve it," PLU head coach Steve Dickerson said. "They work hard. We played everyone, and they all contributed."
As a team, the Lutes shot 68.8 percent (55 of 80) while shooting 64.7 percent (11 of 17) from three-point range. PLU out-scored NIC 74-16 in the paint and out-rebounded the Eagles 52-28. All 17 members of the team contributed, as the bench scored 72 points and no one played more than 20 minutes.
The Lutes had 15 different players score points. Bryce Miller nearly posted a triple-double with 12 points, seven assists and 10 rebounds. Efficient nights from Brandon Lester and Kyle Sawtell led the scoring effort, as Sawtell made nine of his 10 shot attempts to score a career-high 22 points in only 13 minutes of court time, while Lester had 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting. Shane Jacob scored 12 points, while Seth Anderson and Markus Mitchell Glenn each scored 10.
"It just seemed like everything was going in," Sawtell said. "Everything I shot was in rhythm, and I felt good about everything. It was just one of those nights when everything dropped."
PLU will host its annual Thanksgiving Tournament this weekend, as Puget Sound, University of Chicago and Trinity (Tex.) will compete in the two-day tournament. The Lutes are partnering with Make-A-Wish Foundation for the tournament, and fans will have the opportunity to purchase stars to raise funds for the foundation during both days of the tournament. PLU plays Chicago at 8 p.m. Friday and Trinity at 4 p.m. Saturday.
"It's going to be a tough weekend," Dickerson said. "University of Chicago has been ranked in the past, and Trinity is always tough, they are big. It will be a tough weekend."
