TACOMA, Wash. — Ben Tellez unleashed a career-high 32 points, helping the Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team erase a 13-point deficit and force overtime against crosstown nemesis University of Puget Sound. Unfortunately for the Lutes, a dry spell in overtime sabotaged the opportunity to pull out the win with PLU coming up short 74-70 against the hosts in a Tuesday night Northwest Conference showdown inside Puget Sound's Memorial Fieldhouse.
 
Tellez finished the night with a game-high and career-high 32 points, going nine-for-17 from the field. His night included hitting three treys, sinking 11 free throws, and hauling in six rebounds. It was his sixth straight game in double figures and his eighth game of over 20 points this year. 
 
The visiting Lutes (10-10, 4-7 NWC) scored the first points of overtime at the charity stripe but the host Loggers (13-7, 8-3 NWC) struck back, tying the game with under 70 seconds to go and taking the lead with 56.2 ticks left in the extra session. A steal and quick bucket made it a two possession game and sealed the Lutes' fate in a wild intracity clash that saw PLU erase a 13-point deficit in a 45-minute slugfest that had six lead changes and five ties. 
 
The homestanding Loggers never trailed in the opening half, owning a 37-28 halftime advantage. That lead came despite Puget Sound misfiring on all nine of its three point attempts but the hosts were able to thrive at the charity stripe, making more free throws (11) than the Lutes had attempts (nine). 
 
Puget Sound hit a three to open the second half, building up a 12-point lead but the Lutes scored seven of the next nine, closing within seven with 17:04 remaining on a Dom Perasso layup. The deficit was further reduced to a single possession at 47-44 with 13:23 left in the game after Henry Smith knocked down a trio of threes over an 84-second span.
 
A Julian Brown layup tipped the scales in favor of the Lutes 52-51 with 10:36 left in the second stanza. It would remain a one possession game the rest of the way with four lead changes and three ties. Ben Tellez hit a bucket with 47.7 seconds left, tying the game at 65. Both teams had a chance to push ahead but were unable to capitalize, sending the game to overtime.
 
Two more Lutes joined Tellez in double figures with Smith and Julian Brown both contributing 11 points. Perasso had a team-high 12 rebounds with Caleb Berry dishing out five assists. 
 
PLU shot 52 percent (13-for-25) in the second half but misfired on all five shots in overtime, concluding the game shooting at a 35.6 percent clip (21-for-59). The Loggers owned a massive advantage inside, holding a 46-16 edge in points in the paint. 
 
After five games on the road, the Lutes get to finally enjoy the comforts of home, hosting Willamette University on Saturday. Tipoff inside Olson Gymnasium is slated for 5 p.m.