TACOMA, Wash. — Head Coach
Chad Murray etched his 100th career win as a Lute as the Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball squad closed out its homestand with a 80-61 victory over Northwest Conference rival Linfield University on Saturday evening.
The score was tied at 32 at the halftime break but the Lutes (8-7, 2-4 NWC) erupted to start the second half, getting the fans at Olson Gymnasium on their feet with a 33-7 spurt to open the final 20 minutes of play.
"That was the best 10 minutes we've played all year," said Head Coach
Chad Murray who now has 100 wins over his nine years at PLU and 171 overall as a collegiate coach.
"I loved the focus and intensity the starters had when we came out of the locker room. We played the way we're capable of playing on both ends. We needed this game badly and I hope we can bottle this up and use it in the weeks ahead."
A
Charlie Kapranos jumper kick started the run that includes three treys from
Henry Smith along with threes from
Mack Hepper,
Ben Tellez, and
Cam Rice. Rice's three capped off the incredible run, making it a 26-point buffer with 9:42 remaining. The hosts led by at least 18 the rest of the way for the memorable 19-point win for Murray's milestone 100th.
It was a volatile opening half that featured 10 lead changes and five ties, with neither team ever holding a lead greater than four. A Kapranos bucket with 30 ticks left tied the game at 32, a score the teams would take into the locker room at half.
Ben Tellez led the charge with 22 points, including hitting three treys and eight of his 12 field goals. He also hauled in six rebounds. Kapranos had 12 points and eight assists with Hepper going four-for-four from long distance and registering a dozen points. Smith was the fifth Lute in double figures, scoring 11 with nine coming from three-point range.
PLU shot an efficient 55.6 percent from the field (30-for-54) on the night, including a blazing 63 percent (17-for-27) in the second half. The Lutes also reigned down 14 threes, shooting 50 percent from distance. PLU ended up outscoring the Wildcats (5-9, 3-3 NWC) by a 48-29 margin over the second half.
The Lutes are back in action on Friday, facing Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington to kick off a five-game road swing.
