Box Score TACOMA, Wash. – Freshman Sam Noland tallied a team-high 18 points and sophomore Brett Williams scored a career-high 13 to lead the Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team to a weekend sweep of Whitman College with a 72-65 victory on Saturday night. 
 
"We aren't in mid-season form, but these two games were mid-season conference grinders that really challenged us," said head coach Chad Murray.  "Credit to Whitman for quickly coming together into a really tough team.  We were fortunate to come away with this one tonight especially." 
 
With the victory, PLU (2-0, 2-0 NWC) starts the season with two victories for the first time since the 2008-2009 season and it's the first time the Lutes have beaten Whitman in back-to-back games since February 9, 2007 and January 19, 2008. 
 
Trailing by single digits for the most of the first 34 minutes, the Lutes drew to within one after senior point guard Kelton Williams canned his only two points from the free throw line with 6:05 remaining.  Fellow senior Luke Worley drilled a three-pointer for his only field goal two minutes later to put the home squad up two.  The Blues finally got on the scoreboard for the first time in nearly four minutes on the next possession and tied the score on a pair of free throws by Carlos Angel, Jr.  PLU answered right back with a layup by Brett Williams on a pretty pass from Jordan Thomas and the two hooked up again on the next possession when Williams stole the ball on the defensive end and dished to Thomas to put the Lutes up four with 2:13 showing. 
 
After an abysmal performance from the free throw line last night, PLU righted the ship this evening and sank 7-of-8 from the line down the stretch to ice the win. 
 
Noland helped the home team overcome a tough start as the visiting Blues jumped out to 10-2 lead in the opening minutes.  After the freshman checked in, he scored seven straight points and 14 of PLU's first 24.  After not scoring last night, Williams finished the first half with nine points and four rebounds as the Lutes trailed 35-33 at the halfway mark. 
 
"Sam Noland provided an unbelievable spark in the first half," said Murray.  "We were sort of sleep walking through the first few minutes and he came in and gave us instant life.  As I've mentioned many times Brett just does what is asked of him every night.  Tonight he scored, defended, rebounded and provided some steadiness at the free line that we desperately needed.  While I'm not surprised at all, I loved seeing the resilience early in the season from this group."
 
Thomas finished with 11 points, five assists, four rebounds, a steal and a block and Sean McCurdy snatched a team-high seven boards. 
 
The Lutes will face one of their toughest tests of the regular season next weekend when they hit the road to take on Whitworth University on Friday and Saturday.  Friday's tip is slated for 8:00 p.m. with Saturday's starting at 5:00 p.m.