Box Score TACOMA, Wash. – The Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball is off to its best start since the 2006-07 season as they move to 4-0 with a comfortable 78-67 victory over crosstown rival University of Puget Sound.
Stifling defense and dominating rebounding was the difference on Saturday night. The Lutes held the Loggers to a paltry 36.1 percent from the field and owned a massive 46-26 edge in rebounds. PLU also doubled up UPS in the offensive rebounding metric 16-8, leading to 16 second-chance points.
"I loved the balanced scoring effort today," said PLU assistant coach
Alex Schilter. "It was a complete team win. We stayed disciplined and the guys executed the game plan well. At the end of the day, it's all for Coach Murray. The guys are fired up for him to return to the team at 4-0."
The Lutes led for all but 43 seconds on Saturday night and the Loggers' only advantage was a 3-2 edge in the game's early minutes. PLU increased its lead to double digits for the first time when
Tyler Ashmore knocked down a pair from the charity stripe for a 31-21 lead with 6:50 remaining in the first 20 minutes. The lead ballooned to a first-half high 14 when
Sam Noland swished in a freebie to make it 41-27 with 1:01 left in the half.
UPS never threatened in the second half as the Lutes led by more than 15 points for a large portion of the second half. The Loggers only got the Lute lead down to nine points with 15 seconds remaining.
Senior point guard
Kelton Williams had his best night of the season with 13 points and a 7-for-8 performance from the free throw line.
Jordan Thomas led the way with 17 points and nine boards and
Seth Hall picked up his second-straight double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore
Sean McCurdy added 11 points for the victors.
It was a good shooting night from long range tonight for the Lutes. Williams, Ashmore and
Brett Williams all knocked down two from downtown and PLU shot an impressive 8-for-18 from beyond the arc.
PLU will continue its road trip next weekend when they head to Whitman College for a pair of contests. Friday and Saturday nights' games will tip at 8:00 p.m. in Walla Walla.
