TACOMA, Wash. — A 19-point cushion proved to me a mirage for the Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team on Friday night. What appeared to be a blowout in the making morphed into a nail-biter with Northwest Conference rival George Fox University clawing back before delivering a dagger with 0.7 seconds left to earn the 82-80 win over the Lutes inside Olson Gymnasium. 

Despite enjoying a lead as great as 19, the Lutes (10-10, 4-7 NWC) trailed by seven with 4:10 remaining in the game. PLU tied the game with under a minute to go courtesy of an 8-1 run. A Jackson Reisner three, his seventh of the game, sparked the run with a Brandin Riedel three the old fashioned way— hitting a layup and a free throw— knotting the score at 80. The Bruins' Charlie Powers emerged as the hero of the night, hitting a jumper with 0.7 seconds left to lift visiting George Fox (6-15, 5-6 NWC) to the win. 

The Lutes were sizzling in the opening seven minutes, scoring 22 of the opening 25 points with Reisner hitting three treys and Sam Noland banging in another in the first half scoring frenzy. That buffer dipped below 10 for the first time on a GFU three with 6:00 left in the half and the Lutes took a 46-38 lead into the intermission. 

The Bruins continued to claw in the second half, tying the game at 52 on a three with 14:45 remaining before taking their first lead of the game on a free throw with 12:41 left. The lead would ebb and flow between the two clubs the rest of the way until the Bruins buried the game-winner in the final second.

Reisner finished one point off a career-high, leading all scorers with 23 points. Resiner was on fire beyond the arc, hitting seven of his 10 attempts from distance. Reidel was equally efficent inside, registering 18 points on eight-for-10 shooting. Reidel additionally hauled in seven rebounds. Sean McCurdy had 16 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks while Sam Noland added 10 points. Shane McGaughey-Fick filled out the stat sheet with 11 boards and seven assists. 

Turnovers proved a difference maker. George Fox committed just four while the Lutes turned the ball over on 14 occasions. GFU held an 18-6 edge in points off turnovers, a 13-7 edge in second chance points, and a 32-9 advantage in bench points. GFU additionally had as many made free throws (13) as the Lutes had attempts (13).

PLU is back on the hardwood tomorrow at 6 p.m., welcoming Linfield University to Olson Gymnasium.