Box Score TACOMA, Wash. – It was a tale of two halves in Olson Gymnasium on Tuesday night.  The Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team led by 15 points at halftime, but George Fox University stormed back to force overtime.  The teams combined for just seven points over the final five minutes and the Lutes hung on for a 67-66 win to keep them in second place in the Northwest Conference race. 
 
"I told the guys that we are testing the basketball gods with our games over the last week," said PLU Head Coach Chad Murray.  "Just some crazy statistics tonight seeing as though we shot so poorly from the line and didn't hit many from beyond the arc.  We are thrilled to get that win, and there are no asterisks by games like this in the standings.  They count just the same as a twenty-point win.  However, we know what we need to improve on and understand that tonight wasn't our best showing.  I thought our defense in the first half was fantastic and Brandin did a nice job establishing himself inside and that allowed us to extend our lead."
 
With the score tied at 65, Brett Williams' layup at 2:18 left would be the final field goal for either team for the rest of the contest as the Lutes took a 67-65 lead.  After two straight empty possessions by the visitors, the Bruins cut the lead in half on a free throw with 53 seconds left.  The two teams traded possessions before Seth Hall grabbed his 10^th defensive rebound of the game, but missed a pair of free throws after being fouled shortly after.  Down by one, Davon Walker's game-winning layup glanced off the iron and Hall secured his 11^th defensive board as time expired. 
 
George Fox never led in the contest but tied the score four times in the waning moments of the second half.  It was Hall, who helped keep the Bruins at bay as he scored seven of the Lutes final nine points in regulation. 
 
The Lutes held the Bruins to just 23 percent shooting in the first half and the visitors were just 1-of-12 from the three-point line.  Conversely, PLU shot 54 percent from the field including a 6-of-9 effort from Brandin Riedel.  Overall, the PLU defense continued to be stout, holding the Bruins to just 4-for-21 from the three-point line and 33 percent for the game.  The Lutes also struggled from downtown, making just 2-of-15.  Free throws were also a thorn in the home team's side as the Lutes made just 11-of-25 from the charity stripe. 
 
Sophomore forward Brandin Riedel poured in 15 first-half points as the Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team led by as many as 18 in the first 20 minutes.  Hall led the way down the stretch and finished with a game-high 17 and 13 rebounds.  Tyler Ashmore chipped in eight points and pulled down 12 boards. 
 
PLU remains at home this weekend when they host Pacific University on Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Lewis & Clark College on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.