Jan. 30, 2007

Frustration for Lutes as Loggers Rally Late for 89-86 Win

Game Statistics

Scott McDaniels - 31 points, 11 rebounds

TACOMA, Wash. – Puget Sound rallied from an 81-66 deficit late in the game to take an 89-86 Northwest Conference men's basketball victory over visiting Pacific Lutheran on Tuesday night at Memorial Fieldhouse.

The Loggers outscored the Lutes, 23-5, over the final 6:42 of the game, to improve their record to 15-4, including an 8-3 record in the Northwest Conference. Pacific Lutheran dropped its third straight game and is now 7-11 for the season and 4-7 in the conference.

Pacific Lutheran led by as much as 11 points on two occasions in the first half, the second coming on a dunk by Scott McDaniels to make the score 35-24 with 7:44 remaining in the period. Puget Sound was able to whittle away at the lead, but the Lutes still carried a 43-41 advantage at the intermission.

In the second half, the Lutes broke away from a 52-52 tie as McDaniels scored six points during a 12-2 run that gave the Lutes a 64-54 advantage with 12:03 left in the game. Pacific Lutheran continued to add to its lead, and when Landon Heidenreich hit a layup the Lutes had had their biggest lead of the game, 81-66, with 6:42 remaining.

On its next eight possessions, the Lutes turned the ball over six times. Puget Sound, ranked No. 21 in the NCAA Division III national rankings, took advantage, reducing its deficit to 82-81 with 2:19 to play. McDaniels and Josh Vanlandingham scored baskets to put the Lutes back on top, 86-81, but Puget Sound answered with three straight baskets while the Lutes had another turnover and a missed jumper. Trailing by one point with less than 10 seconds left, the Lutes got the ball to McDaniels, but he missed a jumper under heavy pressure from the Loggers. Puget Sound added two free throws with 1.7 seconds left, and the Lutes were unable to get off a shot.

McDaniels continued his impressive play of late with a career-high 31 points. He hit 15-of-23 shots from the field and dominated inside with 11 rebounds. Lawrence Brooks also had a career-high for PLU with 16 points, while Josh Dressler scored 14 and Vanlandingham added 10.

The Lutes made 19-of-31 shots each half, finishing 38-of-62 for a season-best .613 shooting percentage. PLU also controlled the rebounding 37-29, but 23 turnovers, including a flurry late in the game, proved to be its undoing.

Puget Sound got double-figure scoring from all five of its starters, including 21 points from Taylor Marsh and 20 from Robert Krauel.

Pacific Lutheran returns to action on Friday when it hosts Lewis & Clark at 8 p.m. in a Northwest Conference contest.

- PLU -