FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Needing a win to keep its Northwest Conference Tournament hopes alive, the Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team ran into a hot-shooting Pacific University squad on Friday night and fell to the Boxers 86-75.
"It was a disappointing finish for sure," said PLU Head Coach
Chad Murray. "I didn't have our guys ready to play tonight for whatever reason. We'll all learn from it though. We lacked energy from the start and seemed disjointed on offense and a step slow defensively. Give Pacific credit, they played well and shot the three at a very high rate."
PLU led by as many as nine in the first half when
Brandin Riedel dropped in a layup to make the score 17-8 with 12:09 remaining in the first half. The Lutes hung onto the lead until a Lucas Winkler jumper put the hosts ahead 22-21 with 7:06 left in the half. The Boxers led the rest of the game, including a 36-32 advantage after the first 20 minutes.
A 9-0 run to start the second half for the Boxers had PLU playing catchup the rest of the way. The lead swelled to as many as 20 at one point before the Lute defense could contain Pacific. The Lutes held the home team without a field goal for the final five minutes, but were unable to get closer than eight points down the stretch.
"We responded to so many things thrown at us this year, last possession games, injuries and all of the other normal bumps along the road that the season provides," said Murray. "I'm extremely proud of the fight our guys showed throughout. We have some high character guys who care deeply for each other and the program."
Sam Noland let the effort with 20 points, while Riedel poured in 19 with nine rebounds.
Sean McCurdy recorded a double double with 13 points and 11 boards. Overall, the Lutes shot 52 percent from the field, 43.5 percent from beyond the arc, and won the rebounding battle, but were unable to overcome 15 turnovers.
"I'm already looking forward to getting back on the floor with these guys to prepare for our foreign tour to Iceland and Spain later in the spring," said Murray."
