Nov. 16, 2007

McDaniels, Dressler Lead Lutes Past Augsburg, 84-73

Josh Dressler

Scott McDaniels

Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. - Scott McDaniels and Josh Dressler both scored 30 points as Pacific Lutheran opened its 2007-08 men's basketball season on Friday with an 84-73 victory over Augsburg (Minn.) at the Northwest Lutheran Invitational Tournament, hosted by Concordia University.

With the win, the Lutes advance to the tournament championship game scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday against the winner of Friday night's contest between tournament host Concordia-Portland and Concordia-Nebraska. The tournament is sponsored by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

The Auggies took an early 7-2 lead three minutes into the game on a pair of Nate Alm free throws, but Dressler, a junior wing, found the shooting touch for the Lutes in the first half. He scored 18 first-half points in helping the Lutes build a 44-36 lead at the break. Dressler hit a three-point field goal to give the Lutes their first lead, 17-16, halfway through the period. He added another trey with 1:30 remaining in the half to give PLU a 43-30 advantage.

Augsburg whittled its deficit to 47-46 on a layup by Femi Solaja at 15:15 of the second period, but Dressler and McDaniels each hit back-to-back baskets to put the Lutes ahead by nine. Again the Auggies responded, eventually pulling to within two points, 67-65, on a Solaja free throw with 5:10 to play. PLU finally put the game away with a 10-0 run, highlighted by a pair of Kevin Englund baskets, over the next four minutes.

McDaniels, a senior post, scored 16 of his points in the second half and also grabbed nine rebounds as the Lutes won that battle, 49-42. PLU senior point guard Landon Heidenreich scored all 11 of his points at the foul line, making 11-of-14, and he contributed eight assists. As a team, the Lutes shot the ball poorly, making 41 percent of their field goal attempts and hitting just 25-of-42, or 60 percent, from the charity stripe.

Alm led the Auggies with 16 points and 13 rebounds, but he fouled out during PLU's crucial late-game run.

- PLU -