TACOMA, Wash. – The Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team was firing on all cylinders on Tuesday night, dismantling arch rival University of Puget Sound 80-48 to clinch at least a share of their first Northwest Conference title since 1986.
PLU (18-6, 13-2 NWC) left no doubt in beating the Loggers for the eighth consecutive time. The Lutes led wire-to-wire after starting the game off on a 12-2 run. The home team would lead by no less than eight points the rest of the way and the home crowd was treated to a 45-21 halftime lead after senior
Brett Williams banged in one of his patented corner threes with four seconds left.
The home team killed any thought of a second-half comeback as they kept their foot on the gas to start the second half, going on a 11-3 run to lead 56-24 after a layup by senior
Jordan Thomas with 16:39 to go.
Thomas's layup with 2:07 remaining was the icing on the cake on an incredible night for the entire program. The senior finished the night with 14 points for an even 1,000 for his career. Senior
Seth Hall poured in 19 points on 9-of-15 from the field and
Sean McCurdy scored 15 points and pulled down a team-high seven boards.
PLU held the Loggers to a season-low 48 points on just 30 percent shooting from the field.
The Lutes have an opportunity to clinch the league crown outright and host both rounds of the NWC Tournament on Friday when they host Linfield University at 8:00 p.m. Whitworth University and Linfield both have two games remaining on their schedule, but are currently 1.5 games back in the standings.
With the victory, PLU not only extended its overall winning streak to eight games, it moved to 10-0 this season inside Olson Gymnasium. The Lutes have posted 18 wins this season and are assured of at least two more games this winter. The 18 victories are the most since PLU won 19 in 1985 and the Lutes have not won 20 in a season since 1966.
PLU will look to lock up their first perfect season at home since 1997 when they host the Wildcats on Friday night.
