Nov. 18, 2006

PLU Builds Big Cushion, Holds Off Banana Slugs

Josh Dressler - 22 points leads Lutes

Scott McDaniels - 18 points, 10 boards

Pacific Lutheran built a 27-point second half lead then saw all but three points of that margin disappear before holding on for a 84-79 victory over UC Santa Cruz on Saturday at the UPS Tip-Off Classic.

With the victory, the Lutes start the 2006-07 season with a 2-0 record. The last time that PLU started with two victories was the 2001-02 season under head coach Bruce Haroldson.

The Lutes trailed only once in the game, that when UCSC's Greg Palmer hit the first basket. PLU took a double-digit lead for the first time with 8:46 left in the half when Josh Dressler's layup made the score 21-11. The Lutes later went on an 11-2 run, seven points coming from Josh Vanlandingham and the other four from Dressler, to take a 43-21 lead with 2:46 left in the first half.

When Vanlandingham hit a layup with 12:11 remaining, the Lutes had their largest lead of the game at 61-34. Then, over the next 9 1/2 minutes, the Banana Slugs outscored the Lutes 38-16 to pull within five points. Ehson Mortezaie made a basket to make the score 77-72 with 2:33 left to play, and Murphy Holmes hit a three-pointer to cut PLU's advantage to 82-79 with four seconds left. UCSC fouled Dressler and the sophomore guard hit both free throws for the final margin.

Dressler led all scorers with 22 points, and he added seven rebounds and five assists to the PLU cause. Vanlandingham had 19 points off the bench, and reserve post Scott McDaniels had his best game as a collegian with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Holmes had 21 points to lead four UCSC players in double figures.

Dressler was named to the all-tournament team.

Pacific Lutheran returns to action on Nov. 28 when it travels to Bellingham to face NCAA Division II regional power Western Washington University.

-PLU-