TACOMA, Wash. — A suffocating defensive effort to start the game set the table for the Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team on Tuesday night, blasting crosstown nemesis University of Puget Sound 78-53 in the home finale inside Olson Gymnasium. Sam Noland matched a career-high with 26 points, Sean McCurdy hauled in 18 rebounds, while Liam Johnston put the crowd into a frenzy with an emphatic dunk with just over two minutes left as PLU extended its win streak over the Loggers to 10 straight. 

The win additionally keeps the Lutes (13-11, 7-8 NWC) in the mix for the fourth and final spot in the Northwest Conference Tournament, sitting a half game back of Lewis & Clark College and Linfield University who sit tied in the league standings with a 7-7 record with two games to play. 

The homestanding Lutes raced out to an early 11-0 lead and scored 19 of the opening 21 points. The visiting Loggers (17-7, 10-5 NWC) lethargic start included misfiring on their opening 11 shots, and were held scoreless for the opening eight minutes. PLU led by double digits the rest of the half, taking a 37-24 lead into the halftime intermission. 

PLU led by at least 16 the entire second half in the wire-to-wire win, extending its advantage to a game-high 33 points on a Liam Johnston dunk with 2:24 remaining. 
 
"We were incredible defensively to start the game which allowed us to ease into it offensively. We were a little slow out of the gate on that end," said Head Coach Chad Murray.

"Liam was off the charts again with a couple of huge threes and the best dunk of the season for us. He's really answered the bell for us these last two games. Sam and Sean impacted the game in huge ways by hitting timely three's and dominating on the glass."

Noland drained five three-pointers on the night, matching his career-high from last Friday with 26 points. McCurdy hailed in a career-high 18 rebounds while adding 13 points and five assists with Brandin Riedel adding 11 points and seven rebounds. Johnston added 10 points off the bench with Shane McGaughey-Fick leading the team with seven assists.

PLU enjoyed a 43-33 rebounding edge and was red-hot from the perimeter, hitting 13 three's on the night and shooting at a 65 percent clip (13-for-20) from distance. PLU shot 49.2 percent (29-for-59) from the floor while limiting Puget Sound to shooting just 30.9 percent (21-for-68) on the night. 

"We've gone through a lot this year and will enjoy this for as long as we can tonight and then we'll be ready to go on Friday versus Pacific. 

The Lutes cap off the regular season on Friday night in Forest Grove, Oregon, facing Pacific University. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m.