TACOMA, Wash.– The Pacfic Lutheran University men's basketball team gritted out a 64-61 win over Warner Pacific University at home to extend their winning streak to five games Friday night. Down nine points with five minutes left, a series of triples from
Cam Rice,
Henry Smith, and
Caleb Berry proved to be the spark in PLU's come from behind win.
The Lutes own the all-time series advantage against the Knights 4-1 winning the last three contests. Lutes tallied their lowest scoring output on the season so far. In the first 34 minutes of play, PLU was 5-of-26 from beyond the arc, but when the game was on the line they hit five three-pointers in span of 4:30 minutes.
"Tonight was another example of us finding a way to win a really ugly game," Head Coach
Chad Murray noted. "We don't want to make a habit of these type of wins, but while we weren't happy with a lot of things that happened in the game there were a lot of positives that we can build on. In the nick of time, we were able to get hot from 3, led by Henry and capped off by Caleb. It allowed us to get some momentum, while we also strung up some stops. We have a ways to go still, but I am liking our fight and unwillingness to relent in the face of adversity. We kept going and stuck to our process that we trust and good things eventually happen."
A game that got off to a slow start offensively as both teams shot a combined 29.6 % from the field in the first half.
Charlie Kapranos and
Dom Perasso kept the Lutes in the contest in the first half leading the way with seven and five points respectively as the Lutes were down 26-24.
The Knights would go up as much as nine points in the second half. Kapranos went to work as the engine of the offense demanding attention on the assisting Smith on back-to-back three withing a minute of each other. Berry reciprocated the energy as his defender went under a screen and drilled a three from the top of the key to give the Lutes a 54-53 advantage with three minutes left.
Rice and Kapranos would deliver some huge defensive stops and offensive layups to give PLU a 58-55 lead with 1:37 remaining. Berry was called upon late again stepping in to a deep three which caused an uproar in Olson. Warner Pacific made a last ditch effort and cut the game down to 61-58 game, but Berry would confidently walk to the line and 3/4 on free throws to give PLU the 64-61 edge.
Kapranos finished with a team-high 17 points and 10 rebounds, his fourth double-double of the season and fourth in the last five games. Berry also finished with 16 points and three three-pointers.
Pacific Lutheran will be back in action in Olson on Monday, December 15th at 6 PM as they take on Douglas College.
