Box Score SPOKANE, Wash. – The Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team took their first Northwest Conference loss of the season on Saturday at Whitworth University, falling to the Pirates 97-69.

"Sometimes in this game you have to just give credit to the other team for playing so well," said PLU Head Coach Chad Murray.  "I thought Whitworth played a really good game, obviously shot it incredibly well from three and really dominated the second half."
 
The Lutes led for most of the early going, including a 10-point advantage at 21-11.  The visitors continued to lead at 36-31 with 4:07 left in the first half after a Tyler Ashmore layup.  The tides turned shortly after as the Pirates ended the first half on a 13-2 run.
 
After the break, Whitworth continued its hot shooting as they scored the first 10 points of the second half to blow open a once-close ballgame.   
 
Seth Hall led the way for PLU with 19 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field and 2-of-5 from three-point range.  Brandin Riedel had an efficient night with 13 points, making of 6-of-9 shots. Sean McCurdy added 12, while Tyler Ashmore pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. 
 
The Pirates shot 54 percent from the field and drilled 14 three-pointers.  The home team also held a 36-28 rebounding edge and collected nine offensive rebounds.  The Pirates scored 12 second-chance points added 16 more off of Lute miscues.  Whitworth had five players in double figures, led by Garrett Paxton with 19.    

"This changes nothing in our pursuit of a conference championship," said Murray.  "We are on track still and will look to respond with a great performance on Tuesday night versus UPS."

The Lutes (9-5, 4-1 NWC) will remain on the road on Tuesday when they take on crosstown rival University of Puget Sound.  Tipoff is slated for 8:00 p.m.