TACOMA, Wash.-- A late game surge pushed a tie game into a blowout on Friday night as the Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team outmuscled Northwest Conference rival Lewis & Clark College 75-58 inside Olson Gymnasium.

Friday's showdown was tied at 50 with 8:25 remaining in the game before the Lutes (9-5, 2-3 NWC) mounted a 21-5 run over the next six minutes to seal the game. A Sam Noland layup kickstarted the run that saw the Lutes sunk nine of their 14 shots while getting seven points from Mack Hepper during that key stretch and a half dozen from both Noland and Miles Nash.

Neither team owned a lead of greater than four points in the opening half with a Brandin Riedel layup giving the host Lutes a 32-30 halftime advantage.

PLU's lead ballooned to 10 on a Miles Nash three with 13:59 left in the game but the Pioneers (5-9, 1-4 NWC) clawed back into the game, tying it at 50 on a layup with 8:57 remaining. All told, there were 14 lead changes and eight ties over the 40-minute contest.

"We're really pleased and excited to get this win. We had to stick with our game plan and at a key point in the second half we were able to separate a bit. We found something that was working for us and just kept at it. I thought the latter part of the second half was the best we've executed offensively all season. We're a very capable team with a lot of weapons. We just need to continue to stick together and let our process work for us," said Head Coach Chad Murray.

Nash paced the Lutes with 22 points on the night while also adding six rebounds, four assists, and a pair of steals. Noland dropped 12 and added seven rebounds with half of his production coming in that key stretch in the second half while Jason Montes registered 10 points and five assists.

PLU shot just 35.5 percent (11-for-31) from the field in the opening half but was scorching the nets in the second 20 minutes, hitting 55.9 percent (19-for-34) of its opportunities.

PLU crushed the Pios on the glass, enjoying a 42-25 rebounding advantage, including limiting the visitors to just one offensive board and no second chance points.

The Lutes return to the hardwood tomorrow afternoon, hosting Pacific University at 6 p.m. inside Olson Gymnasium.