TACOMA, WASH. --- The Pacific Lutheran Men's Basketball team (8-5, 1-3 NWC) was unable to overcome a double-digit deficit in high-scoring loss against Willamette (8-4, 3-1 NWC) a 85-82 defeat. Jason Montes and Brandin Riedel each earned double-doubles.
 
The two Northwest Conference foe's traded a basket down low followed by a three-pointer to get the scoring started, with the game tied at 5-5. Riedel and Montes teamed up going to work down low, as Montes cashed in on an and-one just six minutes into the contest and putting them out to a 10-5 lead. From there, the Bearcats did much of the same, consistently driving to the rim in each of their following possessions and executing to shrink the Lutes lead to just one. Josiah Frank was the leader for the Bearcats all night, as he came off the bench to cash in on a three with 11:40 remaining in the first half. He would go on to score eight-straight points for the Bearcats, and shoot perfect from the field to start the game. With a 12-5 offensive run for the Bearcats, Ashton Rico and Miles Nash would bring the Lutes right back within striking distance.
 
With the Bearcats shooting lights-out from the field, they were able to put up 47 points in the first half. The Lutes put up a modest 35 points through the first 20 minutes but looked to find a way to slow down Willamette at the break.
 
The Lutes defense stepped up coming out of the locker room, holding the Bearcats scoreless for the first four minutes of the final half. Nash went to work, executing on floaters down low to help bring the Lutes back in the game. Following the under-16 media timeout, both offences went on a tear, putting up points on each possession for nearly 90-seconds. Numerous times the Lutes began flirting with cutting deep into the Bearcats lead, but just as they cut the deficit to eight, Willamette would go on to answer back. With 10 minutes to play, Jackson Reisner and Mack Hepper lead a 12-2 run for the Lutes thanks to a pair of shots from beyond the arc; the Bearcats lead was now erased with 7:46 left in the game.
 
From there, the Bearcats tried to inch away from the Lutes with a two-possession lead, but Nash went on a 4-0 run himself to bring the Lutes back to within one. A jumper with 1:43 left in the game would put the Bearcats up four for most of the remaining seconds. In a final attempt at glory, Nash drilled a contested three with five-seconds remaining to put the Lutes down one. This three marked the 11^th-straight point scored for the Lutes by Miles Nash alone.
 
A pair of free throws with just one second remaining would be just enough to propel the Bearcats over the Lutes with a final score of 85-82.
 
Miles Nash lead the way individually with 21 points, eight rebounds, and two assists. Riedel trailed close behind with 20 points and 11 boards meanwhile Montes added 16 points and 10 rebounds of his own; earning the two each double-doubles. The Lutes shot 44% from the field and 43% from beyond the arc; thanks to a strong second half of 50% each from the field and from deep. The Bearcats shot just 1% better from the field and nearly the same from deep, with Frank coming off the bench and scoring 35 points on 63% from the field and 83% from three.
 
The Lutes look ahead to next Friday and Saturday, where they will aim to get back on track, hosting Lewis & Clark and Pacific. The Lutes will face the Pioneers at 8 p.m. on Friday and the Boxers at 6 p.m. on Saturday with both games inside Olson Gymnasium.
 
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