SPOKANE, Wash. — A hot start proved to be unsustainable for the Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team on Friday night, as the second-seed Lutes saw their five-game win streak snapped 82-62 at the hands of third-seed Whitman College in the semifinals of the 2025 Northwest Conference Tournament inside Whitworth Fieldhouse. 
 
It was a fast start for the Lutes (14-12), scoring nine of the game's first 12 points. Emmett Holt tallied the game's first bucket with a turn around jumper. The Blues drilled a three to take the lead but a Brandin Riedel layup, a Jason Montes trey, and another Holt bucket made it a 9-3 Lute edge just under three minutes into the game.

Whitman (13-13) answered with 12 straight, staking a 15-9 advantage on a Grant Hunt three-pointer with 14:21 left in the opening stanza. A Ben Tellez three with 8:45 remaining in the first half made it a four-point spread but the Blues would score 21 of the final 30 points of the half, enjoying a 47-31 lead at the halftime intermission. 
 
The Blues maintained at least a 13-point cushion the entire second half, cruising to the NWC Championship game where they will face the winner of the Whitworth University-Lewis & Clark College semifinal. 
 
"We got thoroughly outplayed in every way tonight. I'll have to take a step back and analyze why that happened because that was an uncharacteristic performance by our group," said Head Coach Chad Murray.

"While this wasn't the ending that I had envisioned for us, it was still a fantastic season for our program. We were led by an awesome group of seniors who provided an incredible example of servant leadership and professionalism. I can't say enough about Brandin, Drew, Liam, Jason, and Emmett. They will forever be Lutes and left a legacy to be admired."

Three Lutes finished in double figures with Emmett Holt leading the way with 13 points. Brandin Riedel tallied 10 points with four rebounds while Miles Nash collected 10 points. 
 
Whitman won the turnover battle and made the Lutes pay for their mistakes, with the third-seed Blues enjoying a 22-4 edge in points off turnovers while also enjoying a 15-4 advantage in second chance scoring. 
 
Friday's showdown was a rubbermatch between the Washington rivals. Whitman won the first meeting of the season 84-64 in Walla Walla on Jan. 4 while the Lutes prevailed 84-76 inside Olson Gymnasium back on Jan. 31. 
 
PLU concluded the 2024-2025 campaign with a 14-12 overall record and an 11-5 mark in NWC play, finishing with a winning season under Head Coach Chad Murray for the sixth consecutive year. It's the first time since PLU has strung together six straight winning campaigns since Ed Anderson's squads did it from 1976 to 1982.