TACOMA, Wash. – Trailing by as many as eight points in the second half, the Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team used grinding defense to hold the University of Puget Sound to just 10 points over the final 10 minutes, and
Jordan Thomas scored the Lutes' final 11 points as PLU knocked off the Loggers 63-62.
When PLU (11-11, 7-6 NWC) needed him most, Thomas responded at each and every juncture. With just over three minutes remaining, the junior took over the game, beginning with a blocked shot and saving the rebound that led to a Lute fast break. Thomas finished that break with an old fashioned three-point play to put PLU in front 59-58 with 2:56 left. After the Loggers reclaimed a one-point lead, it was Thomas who grabbed two offensive rebounds to keep possession alive and laid the ball in to give the Lutes a one-point edge with 1:26 remaining. The Loggers scored again on the ensuing possession, but Thomas had another answer as he closed the scoring with another layup with 41 seconds showing on the game clock.
PLU forced a missed three-pointer on the ensuing Logger possession, but missed the front end of a 1-and-1 to allow UPS another shot at victory. UPS went to forward Cal Hansen, who Thomas forced to miss the winning basket, and the rebound went to the home team. PLU missed both free throws as the score stayed at 63-62 with eight second left, but UPS missed a game-winning three at the buzzer that allowed the Lutes to escape with the win.
Thomas led all scorers with 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the comeback.
Conor Geiger grabbed 11 boards to go along with seven points and had a key deflection on the final possession that wasted precious time for the Logger offense. Senior
Leighton Kingma was held to 10 points as he battled foul trouble for most of the game and junior
Seth Hall chipped in 14.
Blake Uyehara had just three points, but provided a nice spark off the bench in nine minutes of action.
It was a tough night for both squads offensively as PLU was held under 40 percent shooting and UPS shot just 42 percent. Both teams also had their issues from the free throw line as PLU was 11-of-19 and UPS hit 6-of-11.
It was a critical victory for PLU who remains in line for the final spot in the Northwest Conference Tournament. The Lutes are now two games ahead of Lewis & Clark College in the win column as the season begins to wind down.
The Lutes will close their home schedule this Saturday when they host Willamette University at 6:00 p.m. PLU will honor seniors
Jacob Bingham,
Kyle James, Geiger and Kingma prior to the Northwest Conference their final NWC tilt in Olson Gymnasium.
