TACOMA, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team weathered a barrage of threes in the first half, outmuscling crosstown rival University of Puget Sound 71-69 in a Northwest Conference showdown on Tuesday evening inside UPS's Memorial Fieldhouse.
In a game with seven lead changes and nine ties, it was the visiting Lutes (5-9, 2-3 NWC) who had the last laugh, utilizing a 7-0 run late in the game to turn a three-point deficit into a four-point cushion. A
Ben Tellez three tied the game at 61 with 4:30 remaining before getting a jumper from
Emmett Holt and a layup from
Brandin Riedel.
With just over a minute left in regulation,
Jason Montes took a charge for the Lutes. Riedel made the Loggers (6-8, 1-4 NWC) pay on the ensuing possession, slipping in a layup to make it a five-point Lute edge. Puget Sound hit a layup with 38 ticks left, slicing the PLU lead to just three. The Lutes sent the Loggers to the free throw line and would hit a pair of their own, doing enough to escape with the two-point win and net the program's 11th win against the Loggers over the last 13 meetings.
"This team is tough to figure out. We showed tremendous resiliency tonight as we had to endure their hot shooting in the first half," said Head Coach
Chad Murray.
"And then even in the second half there were some big moments where we needed to make some plays. Jason was great leading the team tonight and again we had some key contributions from a lot of guys."
Despite the Loggers scorching the nets beyond the arc in the first half, the hosts had just a two point lead to show for it, entering the half with a 38-36 edge in a wild opening 20 minutes that saw a pair of lead changes and four ties.
PLU weathered some early threes from the Loggers, owning a 14-11 edge just under six minutes into the game on a trey from
Ben Tellez. Puget Sound responded with 14 of the next 16 points, a nearly five minute stretch that saw the Loggers hit all six of their shots, including two from three-point range.
Layups from
Emmett Holt and
Charlie Kapranos and another Tellez three made it a one possession game with 7:24 left in the first half. The Lutes kept within five of the hosts the rest of the half with a Tellez three making it a two point game heading into the halftime intermission.
Ben Tellez led the Lutes with 17 points, hit a trio of threes on the evening while Riedel had 14 points and six boards.
Emmett Holt was the third Lute in double figures, ending with 10.
PLU shot 50.9 percent from the floor (28-for-55) and held the hosts to shooting just 38.1 percent (eight-for-21) in the second half. That came after the Loggers scorched the nets, draining seven of its 11 threes (63.6 percent) in the opening 20 minutes.
PLU dominated the paint, outscoring the Loggers 34-18 inside while forcing 16 Logger turnovers.
"We know we can play with anyone and when we decide we want to do it consistency, the wins will come."
The Lutes remain on the road on Friday, trekking to Salem, Oregon to face Willamette University. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
