TACOMA, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team nearly played the role of spoiler for the second straight night. The Lutes had Northwest Conference Co-Champion Whitman College on the ropes on Saturday night but the visitors erased a 15-point deficit to down PLU 83-81 in overtime inside Olson Gymnasium.
 
A Miles Nash layup with 17:37 left in regulation put the Lutes (14-11, 7-9 NWC) up 41-26. PLU's lead was 13 with 13:07 left on a Jackson Reisner trey but the Blues (19-6, 13-3 NWC) utilized a 16-2 scoring binge to take a one-point leads with 8:26 remaining. Neither team would lead by more than a possession the rest of regulation with two lead changes and five ties. Nash put the game into overtime, draining a layup with seven ticks left making it 72-72. 
 
Whitman never trailed in overtime. The Blues' advantage was as many as seven with 1:42 left but the Lutes clawed back, getting a pair of buckets from Nash and a Mack Hepper layup to make it a one-point game with 11 ticks left. PLU had the ball trailing by two with seven seconds left but was unable to hit a shot at the buzzer.
 
The first half was tied at 14 before the Lutes launched a 10-0 run. PLU would maintain at least a seven point gap the rest of the half, enjoying a 37-26 edge at the intermission. 
 
Nash led all scorers with a career-high 32 points while also grabbing seven rebounds and collecting five steals. Brandin Riedel scored 12 points with Jason Montes adding 11. 
 
Saturday was senior night with the team honoring seniors Jack Williams, Peyton Peterson, Jackson Reisner, and Sam Noland. The foursome combined to win 52 games over the past two seasons, including winning the NWC title in 2022.
 
"Sam, Peyton, Jackson and Jack have all made significant impacts on our program and me personally in their own unique ways. I know I speak for the rest of the players and coaches when I say 'thank you for all they've done for PLU Men's Basketball.' I love them all as sons and wish each of them the best as they finish this chapter of their lives," said Head Coach Chad Murray.