TACOMA, Wash. — The Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team needed a defensive stand in the waning moments to escape with the win on Friday night inside Olson Gymnasium, fending off George Fox University 75-73 in the Northwest Conference opener.
 
PLU (7-3, 1-0 NWC) led by as many as 11 points in the second half in a wild league opener that featured 13 lead changes and six ties. George Fox (1-10, 0-2 NWC) led 55-54 with 9:45 remaining in the game before a Henry Smith trey tilted the score in favor of the Lutes. The trey kicked off a 10-0 Lute run that included the final five points from Cam Rice to seize a 64-55 lead with 8:13 remaining.

Unfortunately for the Lutes it wouldn't be that easy with the Bruins whittling the gap to just two points with 2:35 remaining. The two teams traded threes before a Charlie Kapranos dunk made it a four-point gap with 67 ticks left. 
 
The Bruins would get a fast break bucket with 40 seconds left to make it a two point gap but misfired on their final three shots of the night as the Lutes held on for the win.

George Fox scored the game's opening seven points but the Lutes quickly fired back, taking a 12-10 lead on a Mack Hepper three. The Bruins led 28-26 with just over four minutes left in the first but the Lutes scored 12 of the final 15 points of the half, enjoying a 38-31 gap at the break. 

Kapranos led the Lutes with 23 points, his third game this season of over 20 points and second in as many games. The sophomore was eight-for-14 from the floor while dishing out four assists and grabbing four rebounds. Kapranos was additionally a perfect six-for-six from the charity stripe. Henry Smith drained three treys and finished with 13 points with Ben Tellez adding 10. Caleb Berry corralled seven rebounds while Julian Brown dished up five assists. 
 
Pacific Lutheran shot 48.1 percent (25-for-52) from the field, including 52.2. percent in the second half (12-for-23). 
 
PLU continues its homestand tomorrow evening, hosting Lewis & Clark College. Tipoff inside Olson Gymnasium is set for 5 p.m.