Jan. 23, 2008

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Lute Offense to Take on Oregon Schools

THIS WEEK: Pacific Lutheran (8-6, 4-2) at Linfield (9-6, 4-2), Friday, 8 p.m.; PLU at Pacific (Ore.) (5-10, 3-3), Saturday, 8 p.m.

ABOUT THE WILDCATS: Picked to finish eighth in the Northwest Conference in the preseason coaches poll, Linfield has surprised a few teams and currently resides in a third place tie with PLU behind Whitworth and Puget Sound. The Wildcats are a young team that returned no starters from last year’s squad that finished last in the conference with a 3-13 league record, but what they lack in experience they make up for with athleticism and a style that emphasizes keeping fresh bodies on the court at all times. Nine different players have started at least one game this season, and ten average more than ten minutes per game. Guard Steve Taylor, the lone senior on the team, averages just under 14 points per game and has shot better than 50 percent on three-pointers in 79 attempts this season. His jump shot is lethal and he also leads the team in assists and ranks second in steals. This surprising Wildcats team is undefeated (5-0) at home this season, including a 77-70 upset of conference-leading Whitworth, its only league defeat.

LONG-RUNNING RIVALRY: Friday’s game will be the 117th meeting between Linfield and Pacific Lutheran since 1937, with the Lutes leading the overall series 66-50. Last season the teams split their two games, with each team winning at home.

ABOUT THE BOXERS: Pacific has begun to turn around a season that just last week appeared to be fading fast. In spite of their 5-10 overall record, the Boxers are 3-3 in the Northwest Conference after wins over Linfield and George Fox last weekend. The Boxers are clearly a defensive-minded team, ranking in the top half of the conference in most defensive categories. They have struggled on offense, however, ranking last in the conference with a 64.7 per game scoring average and a .408 shooting percentage. Since 1940 the Lutes have dominated the Boxers, winning 77 of their 103 meetings, their best winning percentage (.748) all time against teams they have faced at least 75 times. After splitting last season’s games (the home team won both), PLU will look to run the floor at a fast pace and overwhelm Pacific’s defense with a scoring rhythm the Boxers cannot match.

LUTES NARROWLY MISS UPSET: Whitworth built an 11-point lead with just under three minutes to play, then held off a flurry of three-point baskets by Pacific Lutheran to defeat the host Lutes, 66-62. The Pirates (10-3 overall, 4-1 in conference) went ahead 58-47 when Colin Willemsen hit a pair of free throws with 2:51 remaining in the game. The two points were a string of 12 consecutive Whitworth points scored by Willemsen with the game on the line, and the Pirates needed all of the senior forward’s points as the Lutes put on a furious rally. Josh Dressler and Jared Brandeberry hit back-to-back three-point field goals to whittle the deficit to 57-53, and another long trey by Brandeberry with 18 seconds remaining pulled PLU to within two points at 62-60. Whitworth was up to the task, however, icing the game by making a total of six free throws in the final 32 seconds of the game, including back-to-back makes by both Ryan Symes and Ross Nakamura. The latter’s charity tosses with 16 seconds remaining negated a late rebound layup by PLU’s Tommy Begalka and wrapped up the scoring. In the first half, the Lutes led 12-6 after a Brandeberry three-point bucket at the 12:44 mark, but Whitworth outscored PLU 27-6 over the next 10 minutes to take a 33-18 lead. The Lutes managed to cut their deficit to 35-27 at the half as Norman Edward, Jr. scored twice, including a thunderous dunk, and assisted on Landon Heidenreich's half-ending trey. Dressler finished the game with 17 points while Brandeberry ended up with 14 and Scott McDaniels added 11.

PLU BOUNCES BACK AGAINST WHITMAN: Josh Dressler scored 20 of his game-high 26 points in the second half as Pacific Lutheran rallied past Whitman, 93-84. Whitman (3-10 overall, 0-6 NWC) took advantage of the sluggish Lutes in the first half, building a 31-18 lead at the 6:19 mark on Chris Faidley's three-point basket. The Lutes narrowed their deficit to eight points at the half, 40-32, and four minutes into the final period they started to close on the Missionaries. Trailing 50-40 with 16:20 remaining in the game, Pacific Lutheran put together a 14-4 run, capped by Dressler's three-point field goal, to tie the game at 54-54 with 12:44 on the clock. Pacific Lutheran finally took the lead for good at 71-69 on Dressler's steal and layup with 7:16 remaining. Jared Brandeberry, who scored 15 of his 18 points in the second period, put the nail in Whitman's coffin when he hit a long three-point shot to give the Lutes an 83-74 lead with 1:36 remaining. From that point, the teams traded points and the Lutes had their fourth win in six conference games. Pacific Lutheran ended up scoring 61 points in the second half, which is only its second best offensive output in a single half this season. In a victory at Lewis & Clark during the first weekend of conference play, the Lutes tallied a school record 68 points in the second half. In addition to Dressler and Brandeberry scoring in bunches, Gabe Smith tallied all 10 of his points during the period. Scott McDaniels scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Lutes, while Norman Edwards, Jr. had his best game as a Lute, scoring 11 points and grabbing five boards. Landon Heidenreich finished the game with 10 assists for PLU. Whitman’s Faidley, the NWC's leading scorer, tallied his season average of 23 points. He finished one assist from a triple-double as he recorded 10 rebounds and nine assists.

HEAR IT ON KLAY 1180 AM: Pacific Lutheran’s conference basketball games can be heard live in the Tacoma-Parkland area on KLAY 1180 AM with Hall of Fame announcer Bob Robertson calling the action. The games are also available online at www.klay1180.com.

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