Jan. 30, 2007

MENS BASKETBALL: Lutes Face Fallen Loggers and Blazing Pios

THIS WEEK: Pacific Lutheran travels to the University of Puget Sound today for an 8 p.m. contest and returns home to host the Lewis & Clark Pioneers on Friday at 8 p.m.

LUTES HOPE TO KEEP LOGGERS DOWN: The Lutes head to Puget Sound today for a Northwest Conference game against a Logger squad that had dropped its last two conference games. Puget Sound is currently 14-4 overall, 7-3 in NWC play and is tied with Lewis & Clark for second place in the conference. Last Friday the Loggers dropped a high-scoring 118-109 affair to Willamette and then fell to George Fox on Saturday by a score of 75-63. For the season, the Loggers have spread the ball around, with six players averaging double figures in points. Sophomore forward Jason Foster leads UPS in scoring with a 17.6 average and also pulls in 6.8 rebounds a game. In conference action, Robert Krauel tops UPS in points averaging 18.3 points which is also god enough to lead the Northwest Conference. The Lutes will have to stop Krauel, who lit PLU up for 26 points in a Logger win back on Jan. 3. Despite having not beat the Loggers since 2003, PLU still leads the all-time series against UPS, 62-58. Ironically, PLU last beat UPS, 49-46 in 2003, and the score at halftime of the teams' earlier game this season was 49-46 in favor of UPS. Tonight, the Lutes hope to turn the tide on the Loggers' recent reign.

BLAZING PIONEERS TO ENTER BIG O: The Lewis & Clark College Pioneers currently post a 12-6 overall record and are tied with UPS at 7-3 in NWC action. The Pios have won six of their past eight games, including two victories last weekend over Whitman and a close 66-60 win over conference-leading Whitworth at home. The Pioneers handed the Pirates only their second loss of the season. Lewis & Clark uses a balance scoring attack with junior guard Mark Robinowitz averaging 14.2 points and more than two steals a game. The Pios also like the long ball, making 10.8 three-pointers a game, which is good for first in the conference. Lewis & Clark defeated PLU, 102-76, on Jan. 5 in Portland. The Lutes lead the all-time series against Lewis & Clark, 66-45.

LUTES STUMBLE OVER WEEKEND: Pacific Lutheran took a hit last weekend with their two losses on the road in Oregon. On Friday, Linfield avenged its earlier loss to the Lutes with an 80-73 victory in Ted Wilson Gym. PLU then fell to the Bearcats of Willamette on Saturday by a score of 90-67 in Cone Field House. Against Linfield, the Lutes jumped in front by five in the early going, taking a 13-8 advantage on a jumper by Josh Vanlandingham with six minutes gone, but consecutive layups by Emil Kim turned the tide in the 'Cats favor, putting the hosts in front by a point, 20-19. Linfield led 41-37 at intermission. PLU took a momentary 45-44 lead four minutes into the second half before Linfield went back in front after a three-point play by Ryan Chisolm. The Lutes got within five points with just over two minutes to go but Linfield didn’t budge. Juinor post Scott McDaniels pumped in a game-high 22 points for the Lutes and Landon Heidenreich added 13 points, seven assists and five rebounds. On the following night, PLU couldn’t hang with Willamette despite taking an early lead. After six minutes into the game the Bearcats took control and held a 43-22 halftime lead. PLU shot just 39 percent from the field in the second half and ended the game shooting just 34 percent. Lawrence Brooks scored 14 points and made three of the Lutes’ eight 3-point baskets to lead the team in scoring. PLU was 8-of-24 overall on 3-point attempts. Josh Dressler tacked on 13 points for the Lutes, while Vanlandingham contributed 10 points and McDaniels pulled down eight rebounds in the loss.

BROOKS IMPROVING: Senior guard Lawrence Brooks has gradually been improving over the past three games. In the past three contests Brooks has averaged 12 points, two assists, and nearly two rebounds coming off the bench for the Lutes.

FOLLOW THE LUTES ON THE ROAD: Follow the Lutes in action this weekend by listening to games on KLAY 1180 AM. The broadcasts will also be on the worldwide web at www.klay1180.com. PLU is proud to have Hall of Fame sports broadcaster Bob Robertson calling Lute women’s and men’s basketball contests.

-PLU-