TACOMA, Wash. - A potential blowout turned into a nail-biter on Saturday afternoon but a late push proved more than enough as the Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team held off Northwest Conference rival Willamette University 70-64 inside Olson Gymnasium. 

The opening moments was all Lutes (5-7, 2-2 NWC) with PLU scoring the opening eight points before building an 11-point advantage with 5:46 left in the opening half on a Zac Webb layup. The double digit advantage proved fleeting with the Bearcats (2-10, 0-4 NWC) using an 8-0 run to pull within a possession with 3:28 left before halftime. The Lutes countered with Jordan Thomas hitting a layup as time expired to take a 34-26 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Pacific Lutheran's lead jumped back into double digits early in the second half but Willamette slowly chipped away at the Lute lead and used a 6-0 run to seize its first and ultimately only, lead of the evening at 53-51 with 8:03 remaining. Carlton Brown hit a clutch three on the ensuing possession to give the lead back to the Lutes, a lead PLU wouldn't relinquish the rest of the way. The Lutes hit six free throws in the final 40 seconds to preserve the win, including four from Brown. 

"I was thrilled with our perseverance down the stretch," said Head Coach Chad Murray. "Every game has some sort of adversity and things that go wrong that you have to respond to in a positive way. We were able to do that tonight." 

Brown finished with 22 points and five assists, hitting all eight of his shots from the charity stripe. Jordan Thomas added 15 points and nine boards while Zac Webb had 15 points and six rebounds off the bench, hitting seven of his nine shots from the floor. 

"Carlton was huge down the stretch with some big plays and of course at the free throw line. Both he and Kelton Williams grinded through 40 minutes and had enough left in the tank to get it done."

PLU owned a 42-24 edge in points in the paint while winning the turnover battle 15-7. 

The Lutes resume their homestand on Friday, hosting Lewis & Clark College at 8 p.m.