TACOMA, Wash. -  The Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team knew it had to play its best basketball of the season this weekend against No. 7 Whitworth University in a showdown of undefeated Northwest Conference foes.  The Lutes did just that on Friday night, leading the Pirates by as many as 28 points on two occasions in the second half and cruising to an 84-59 victory. 
 
It was the first victory over Whitworth since January, 14 2006, a span of 32 straight games, including a 30-point defeat in Spokane in the first round of last year's NWC Tournament.  At 5-0, the Lutes are also off to their best start in 60 years.  PLU won eight straight games to start the 1960-61 season.  The win also puts PLU alone atop the Northwest Conference standings at 5-0.  Both PLU and Whitworth were a perfect 4-0 coming into tonight's contest. 
 
The outcome was not in doubt for very long in the second half.  After taking a 33-21 advantage into the locker room, the home team refused to rest on its laurels.  PLU scored the first 13 points of the second half to take a commanding 46-21 advantage with 16 minutes left to go.  The lead ballooned to as many 28 with 13:22 remaining when Ethan Smith navigated through the Whitworth defense for a layup and again reached 28 two minutes later on a layup by Brandin Riedel. 
 
The lead continued to be over 20 points until Tanner Fogle drilled a pair of free throws with five minutes left to get it to 18, but by then it was far too late and the Lutes would not be denied the upset. 
 
A total team defensive effort held the Pirates to just 30.8 percent shooting from both the field and beyond the three-point arc.  
 
Hall saved his best game as a Lute for the biggest moment, setting a new career-high with 31 points, while also grabbing five rebounds and producing two steals and two blocks.  Jordan Thomas added 17 and ripped down a game-high 13 rebounds, while blocking three shots and creating three steals.  In his first game as a Lute, the sophomore Smith was not afraid of the moment, putting up 15 points on 5-for-7 shooting from the field and a perfect 3-for-3 from the three-point arc. 
 
PLU will go for the sweep tomorrow against Whitworth inside Olson Gymnasium at 8:00 p.m.