Feb. 22, 2008

Lutes Hold Off Linfield in Overtime, 98-95

Box Score

Tommy Begalka - big 3-point basket

Kyle MacTaggart - game-tying shot

PARKLAND, Wash. – On a weekend when a trio of seniors are being honored for playing their final games for Pacific Lutheran, it was a handful of freshmen who made key plays for the Lutes in an exciting 98-95 Northwest Conference men’s basketball victory over Linfield that wasn’t decided until overtime.

The game was PLU's sixth overtime contest of the season and the Lutes (11-12 overall, 7-8 NWC) have won four of them.

Kyle MacTaggart’s spin move and layup with 4.3 seconds remaining in regulation tied the game at 81-81 and sent it into overtime, and Tommy Begalka hit a big three-point shot with 1:14 left in the extra period to put the Lutes on top 92-87. It was a lead the Lutes would not give up despite Linfield’s best efforts.

The visiting Wildcats (13-11, 8-7 NWC) started out hot, taking a 28-16 lead on Steve Taylor’s three-point field goal with 10:39 remaining in the first half. The Lutes responded with a 22-9 run, capping the rally on a follow basket by Curtis Trondsen, and taking their first lead since early in the first half, 38-37. The teams went into intermission with the Lutes on top, 44-40.

Pacific Lutheran maintained the lead for the first 13 minutes of the second half, leading by as much as eight points in several occasions, the final time at 65-57 on a reverse layup by Gregory Bogdan with 10:53 remaining in regulation. Linfield eventually regained the lead, 74-73, on Drew Schroeder’s layup at the 6:04 mark.

From there, the teams battled on even terms until K.C. Wiser took an inbounds pass from near his own basket and nailed a three-pointer from the corner to give the Wildcats an 81-79 lead with 13.4 seconds showing. That left it up to MacTaggart, who weaved through the Linfield defense, spun open in the lane and hit the layup that sent the game into overtime.

A pair of seniors got the Lutes going in overtime. First, post Scott McDaniels hit a layup, and following a free throw by Linfield’s Erik Olson, point guard Landon Heidenreich hit a three-point shot to give the Lutes a four-point lead.

Later, Wiser finished off a three-point play to pull the Wildcats within two points, but Begalka hit the biggest three-pointer of his young college career to put the Lutes back on top by five points. After Taylor hit a leaning three-pointer to pull Linfield to within 97-95 with 5.3 seconds left, Begalka hit the second of two free throws with 4.1 seconds remaining, and Taylor’s last-ditch effort was blocked by Bogdan.

A total of five Pacific Lutheran players finished in double figures, led by Heidenreich and junior wing Josh Dressler with 16 points apiece. Freshmen MacTaggart and Begalka both finished with 12 points, a new collegiate career high for Begalka. McDaniels added 12 points and led all players with 14 rebounds, helping the Lutes to a 48-39 lead in that area.

The Lutes also got strong efforts from three other freshmen: Victor Bull scored eight points, while Bogdan had six and Trondson four points and four assists.

Wiser and Taylor both poured in 23 points for the Wildcats, who also got 10 points from Olson, Schroeder and Cody Tesoro. Olson and Brian Murphy both pulled down seven rebounds for the Wildcats.

- PLU -