TACOMA, Wash. – For the first time this season, the Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team came up short in front of the home crowd at Olson Gymnasium. The Lutes saw their eight-game winning streak snapped as Linfield University defeated PLU 72-64.
The Wildcats scored the first nine points of the game, until
Seth Hall finally broke the ice for the Lutes with a three-pointer at the 14:21 mark of the first half. Linfield extended the lead all the way up to 12 over the next two minutes, but the Lutes whittled the lead all the way down to just two at the halftime horn.
Sean McCurdy drilled a three-pointer to open the scoring in the second half, but it was the only lead the Lutes would hold and it was short-lived as Linfield answered with a three-pointer on its next possession. Playing without star senior
Seth Hall for the final 11 minutes, the Lutes stayed within striking distance as the Wildcats only held the lead for more than two possessions on three occasions. The Lutes simply couldn't get over the hump tonight, despite an incredible effort by the NWC Champs.
Jordan Thomas led the Lutes with a double-double, pouring in a team-high 16 points and collecting a game-high 10 rebounds. Hall scored 13 in 26 minutes and
Sean McCurdy and
Brandin Riedel matched him with 13 points each off the bench.
Shane McGaughey-Fick handed out four assists.
The Lutes, who have won their first NWC crown since 1986, will learn their fate in the league's four-team tournament tomorrow. PLU (18-7, 13-3 NWC) has completed its regular season schedule, but Whitworth University and Linfield both remain a half game behind the Lutes with one game left on their schedule.
