TACOMA, Wash. - A buzzer beating layup in overtime proved the difference-maker on Friday evening with the Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball squad ended up on the wrong side of a 69-68 affair against Chapman University at the Doug McArthur Classic inside the University of Puget Sound's Memorial Fieldhouse.
 
Friday's clash featured 16 lead changes and 11 ties with neither team owning a lead greater than seven points over the course of the 45-minute contest.
 
In overtime, the Panthers (0-1) staked the opening five points before the Lutes (1-2) battled back, tying the game at 62 on a pair of Jordan Thomas free throws with just over two minutes remaining. A Kelton Williams three with 68 seconds left put PLU up three but the lead proved fleeting with Chapman recapturing the lead on a jumper with 16 seconds remaining. 
 
Thomas came up big once again, hitting a layup with three seconds on the clock to give the Lutes a one-point margin but the Panthers went coast-to-coast with Thomas Doyle sinking a layup at the buzzer to steal the win. 
 
Pacific Lutheran trailed by seven early in the opening half but utilized a 13-2 run to seize a four-point cushion off a three from Jacob Bingham. The Lutes would hold a lead the rest of the half, taking a 31-29 edge into the locker room. Neither team held a lead of more than four points in the second half with neither team able to sink a bucket in the final 1:35 of regulation. 
 
Leighton Kingma led the Lutes with 20 points, sinking four three-pointers while securing seven rebounds. Thomas contributed 18 points, nine boards, and four assists while Jacob Bingham tallied 13 points. 
 
PLU held a 43-38 rebounding advantage and an 18-11 edge in second chance points while hitting a season-high 10 threes. 
 
The Lutes are back on the hardwood tomorrow afternoon, closing out the classic against Warner Pacific University at 4 p.m.