TACOMA, Wash. — Jackson Reisner and
Brandin Riedel poured on 17 points apiece but the Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team was unable to close out California Lutheran University in the final minutes of Saturday night's non-conference showdown, suffering a 67-62 setback inside Olson Gymnasium.
The Lutes (2-1) led by as many as six in the opening half, enjoying a 19-13 lead midway through the first stanza courtesy of a Riedel layup. The Kingsmen (1-3) responded with a pair of treys to tie the game. Neither team would lead by more than a possession the rest of the first half with
Sam Noland hitting a jumper at the buzzer to give PLU a 35-32 edge at the halftime intermission.
PLU's lead was a single point with 18:45 left in the game before ripping off seven straight points, including a Nolan jumper to take its biggest lead of the game at 46-38 with 16:26 remaining.
That lead proved fleeting with Cal Lu tying the game on a Jake Martin three with 13:53 left. The lead would change hands four times down the stretch with Cal Lu pushing ahead for good on a jumper with 2:15 remaining. CLU made six of its eight free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win.
Reisner finished with 17 points while Riedel added 17 along with six rebounds. Nolan was the third Lute in double figures, scoring 10 while
Sean McCurdy had a team-best nine rebounds while also adding seven points.
Croix Sweeney had eight boards while
Jordan Thomas dished out a team-high four assists.
The Lutes are back in action tomorrow afternoon, hosting Montana State University-Northern at 3 p.m.
