MCMINNVILLE, Ore. --- The Pacific Lutheran Men's Basketball team (10-11, 7-5 NWC) hung on to earn the road win and remain inside the top-four of the Northwest Conference standings after defeating Linfield (7-14, 4-8 NWC) on Saturday night.
 
After Linfield opened the game with an and-one and a 3-0 lead, senior Brandin Riedel put the Lutes on the board with a layup on the Lutes first possession of the game. Senior Emmett Holt answered with three consecutive buckets from beyond the arc, sparking a Lutes 14-0 run that gave them an early 14-3 lead. The Wildcats responded with a pair of their own buckets, but the Lutes maintained over a five-point lead up until the 4:33 mark in the first half.
 
Linfield leveled the game shortly thereafter at 25-25, later taking a 28-25 lead to cap off a 7-0 run. Miles Nash and Ben Tellez answered the call, bringing the Lutes within one, leading to a fourth three-pointer from Holt to regain the lead with 27-seconds remaining in the half. PLU took a 33-31 lead into the break.
 
The Wildcats came out of halftime, taking a six-point lead thanks to an 8-0 run over the first four-and-a-half minutes. After just four-points in the first 20-minutes, Nash took control of the game in the final half, scoring eight of the Lutes next ten-points to take a 43-41 lead. Linfield crept back out to a 51-47 lead, but the Lutes found a 9-0 run behind Nash, Holt, and Charlie Kapranos to go up 58-53 with 5:31 remaining in the game.
 
Nash's incredible scoring run continued, keeping the Lutes ahead by as many as six late in the game. In the closing minutes, the Wildcats cut it to a one-point game with 43-seconds remaining. Nash sank four-straight free throw's to put the Lutes up by three as they entered into a free throw contest. After Linfield missed the second of a pair of free throws, Riedel cashed in on a pair of free throws with less-than one second to play and ice the game for PLU. The Lutes get back on track with a 77-73 win on the road at Linfield.
 
"It's hard to win on the road in this league, and this one proved just that." Said Head Coach Chad Murray following the win.
 
"We really started with great energy defensively, but could not turn that into offense over the first 8-10 minutes of the game. That allowed Linfield to weather the storm and settle themselves. Miles had an incredible second half where he took over the game which was absolutely needed. He stepped up and answered the challenge, carrying us to a hard-earned win. We're excited to play UPS on Tuesday as they are coming in hot! We know it's going to take a big time effort from everyone to hold them off."
 
Nash notched a new season-high in scoring, totaling 29-points, four rebounds, three steals, and four assists. 25 of the junior's 29 points came in the second half. Holt sunk four threes on his way to 18-points, two rebounds, and two assists. The Lutes shot 44.1% from the field and 38.1% from beyond the arc, while also protecting the ball and turning it over just 10 times; improving on their total from the previous game.
 
The Lutes look ahead to Tuesday night inside Olson Gymnasium, as they will take on fellow Tacoma rival, Puget Sound at 6 p.m.
 
To follow Lutes coverage all season long, please follow us on social media; PLU Athletics on Facebook, @GoLutes on X.com and Instagram.