TACOMA, Wash. – The Pacific Lutheran men's basketball team opened the 2022-23 season Thursday with an exhibition game against the semi-professional Seattle Mountaineers, falling 87-64.

The Lutes were able to get 17 players into the game, while 11 players scored to give head coach Chad Murray a long look at who may get playing time once the season gets rolling.

Sam Noland's 13 points led the Lutes, while Liam Johnston had nine and three rebounds off the bench.

PLU opens the regular season at 8 p.m. Tuesday at The Evergreen State College, before kicking off the home slate at 3 p.m. Nov. 12 against Warner Pacific.

The Lutes lost three starters to graduation, including all-American Seth Hall. That showed early, as the Lutes came out a bit tentative falling behind 20-7 before going on a 14-2 run to tie the game at 31-31.

PLU trailed by seven at halftime and pulled within five on a Sean McCurdy fastbreak layup, but the Mountaineers then went on a 14-0 run to blow the game open.

McCurdy finished with four points and five rebounds, while Peyton Peterson had eight points and three assists and Jordan Thomas had six points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals.