PORTLAND – The Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team led Northwest Indian College for all but 20 seconds on Sunday as the Lutes used a full-team effort to defeat the Eagles 90-56 on the campus of Northwest Conference rival Lewis and Clark College. 
 
PLU (3-2) opened the scoring with a bucket by Sam Noland and the Eagles' Malachi Rogers answered with a three-pointer on the ensuing possession to give Northwest Indian its only lead of the day at 3-2 on the game's third possession.  A Jordan Thomas layup led to an 11-0 run and it all Lutes from then on. 
 
"After last night's performance today was important for us to just get back on the floor and experience some success," said PLU Head Coach Chad Murray.  "I thought Sean McCurdy really set the tone for us in the first half with some great rebounding and inside scoring.  That allowed us to take control of the game."
 
In total, 19 Lutes saw game action and 16 of them scored, including the first career buckets for Shane McGaughey-Fick, Jack Williams, Emeri Palacio, Drew Kraft, Jamal Wingfield and Ben Kraska. 
 
"We felt it was very import to establish ourselves in the game so that we could get some extended minutes for some of our younger players," said Murray.  "They are the lifeblood of our program and deserve to have the opportunity to be out there.  I was happy see a bunch of guys get their first college points and contribute in other ways to the win."
 
Sam Nolan led the effort with 13 points, while McCurdy added 12 points and nine rebounds.  Brandin Riedel also snagged nine boards and Jordan Thomas, Seth Hall and Palacio all had eight points each.  For the game, the Lutes shot 50.7 percent from the floor, while holding the Eagles to just 28.2 percent.  PLU also dominated the rebounding battle, 58-32. 
 
PLU will dip into NWC action next weekend when they return to Portland to play Lewis & Clark on Friday night at 8:00 p.m.  The Lutes close the weekend at Pacific University on Saturday with a 6:00 p.m. tip-off.