TACOMA, Wash. - The Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team is returning from a three game tour of California and will resume Northwest Conference play this weekend, welcoming George Fox University and Willamette University to Olson Gymnasium.

The home stretch comes after a huge 61-57 win from the Lutes (4-6, 1-1 NWC) against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges. Sophomore Kelton Williams led the way, putting up 20 points against CMS, including the final six points of the game to seal the win.

"By the end of the trip we were able to bond and connect a lot as a team and that showed as the trip continued by beating Claremont, one of the best teams we will play this year. Another takeaway is that we found out how we need to play as a team, which is by diving on the floor and playing as hard as we can for each other," said Luke Worley.

"I enjoy being able to be with my teammates and connect with everyone on my team. Because we have a lot of new guys it was great getting to know them through the first part of the year and moving forward. With the returners, I have connected even more with then I have last year. The coaches are great as well being in the vans and there is just a ton of laughing and it makes being together great."

As the Lutes move into the conference play only portion of the schedule, the team looks to build on the trip.

"My team and I feel really good about the majority of conference play by the huge win we had versus Claremont" said Worley. "This makes It nice moving forward and it shows what we could do in our own conference. It was a huge step forward for the team. It makes us really excited to go into the conference and have a huge boost of confidence."

The Lutes will have their hands full as the Bruins and Bearcats come to town for the first of four straight home games.

Jan. 4: PLU vs. George Fox at Olson Gymnasium (8 p.m.)

Series History: The Lutes and Bruins have met 47 times since the 1985-86 season with PLU enjoying a 27-20 advantage in the all-time series. Last season PLU nipped GFU 91-90 in Newberg but had its fortunes reversed later in the season, falling 112-87 in the rematch inside Olson.
 
About the Bruins: George Fox (8-3, 2-0 NWC) heads to Olson Gymnasium having won six of its last seven games. The Bruins lone blemish during that span was a 92-81 setback to defending national champion Nebraska Wesleyan University on Dec. 16. 
 
Since then, GFU has ripped off wins at the expense of Chapman University (78-68) and University of La Verne (107-68).
 
Mason Green-Richards is one of three Bruins averaging in double figures, dropping 20.6 points per game. Ryan Lacey adds 17.5 ppg while Dylan Hamlett chips in 10.5 ppg for a team averaging 91.5 points per game.

Jan. 5: PLU vs. Willamette at Olson Gymnasium (6 p.m.)

Series History: The Lutes enjoy a slim 61-55 advantage in the all-time series history that first began during the 1951-52 season. The Bearcats got the best of the Lutes last season, winning both encounters.

About the Bearcats: Willamette (2-8, 0-2 NWC) dropped the opening seven games of the season before finally breaking through with an 87-54 thrashing of Portland Bible College on Dec. 7. The Bearcats made it two in a row with a slim 73-71 win over University of California-Santa Cruz before closing the non-conference slate with a 99-90 setback to University of Northwestern (Minn.)
 
Jordan Jenkins is Willamette's go to scoring threat, averaging 18.3 points per game while Trent Callan and Jonathan Watts add 12.6 ppg and 9.7 ppg, respectively. Jenkins versatility extends beyond scoring, also leading the Bearcats in rebounding (8.3 per game) and assists (4.6 per game).