Feb. 5, 2008

Williams Basket Gives Loggers 98-97 OT Win Over Lutes

Box Score

Kyle MacTaggart - 20 points

Josh Dressler - 24 points, 8 boards

PARKLAND, Wash. – Antwan Williams hit a tough 14-foot jumper in the lane with one second remaining in overtime to give the Puget Sound Loggers a hard-earned 98-97 Northwest Conference men’s basketball win over the Pacific Lutheran Lutes on Tuesday night in Olson Auditorium.

For the second time in as many meetings this season, the two teams battled into overtime, and for the second time it was the No. 13-ranked Loggers (16-3, 9-2 NWC) that squeaked out the victory. In the first game between the teams on Jan. 8, Puget Sound defeated the Lutes, 125-116 in double overtime. Williams made sure that only one extra period was needed this time, hitting his clutch jumper despite heavy defensive pressure from the Lutes (10-9, 6-5 NWC).

After the teams battled to an 88-88 draw after regulation, the Loggers scored first in the extra session on Jason Foster’s layup. Landon Heidenreich hit a jumper and Scott McDaniels hit three-of-four free throws to give the Lutes a 93-90 lead with 2:25 remaining, but the Loggers scored the next six points, punctuated by Foster’s steal and thunderous dunk.

Jared Brandeberry scored on a layup to cut PLU’s deficit to 96-95, and after a miss by Robert Krauel, Kyle MacTaggart hit a pair of free throws with 23 seconds left to put the Lutes on top, 97-96. That set up Williams’ shot, which gave the Loggers their 11th straight win in the series.

There were two ties and three lead changes in a first half that saw the Loggers lead by as much as six points before the Lutes stormed back to grab a 39-32 advantage on McDaniels’ dunk with 5:10 left in the period. PLU eventually took a 46-41 lead into the intermission.

The second half was more of the same as the lead changed hands five times, including when the Lutes took a 65-64 lead with 10:44 left on Greg Bogdan's offensive rebound and putback. Puget Sound responded with a 8-0 spurt, capped by Taylor Marsh’s jumper, to go up 72-65 with 8:36 to play.

Pacific Lutheran managed to get the lead back, 79-78, on a basket by MacTaggart with 4:30 remaining, but the Loggers again regained the lead and held it until Heidenreich hit the second of two foul shots with 10 seconds left. Williams had a chance to end the game in regulation but missed a jumper.

He didn’t miss in overtime.

Josh Dressler scored 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds while playing all 45 minutes for the Lutes. He was joined in double figures by MacTaggart, who scored 20 off the bench, and by McDaniels and Heidenreich, both of whom had 15 points.

Foster poured in 26 points and Krauel came off the bench to tally 25 for the Loggers, who also got 20 from Williams and 10 from Marsh. Krauel led the visitors with eight rebounds.