Another Close Loss As Lutes Fall to UW-Platteville

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. - Pacific Lutheran battled an opponent tough for the fourth straight game, but Sunday's result was like the others as the Lutes dropped a 68-61 decision to the host school at the UW-Platteville Thanksgiving Classic.

The Lutes (0-4) trailed by two points at the half, 31-29, but took the lead less than a minute into the final period on baskets by Kyle MacTaggart and Cameron Schilling. With the score tied at 35-35, the Pioneers (4-2) went on an 8-0 run that pretty much decided the outcome. Curt Hanson hit back-to-back three-point shots and Mike Shaw added a jumper for Platteville as the Lutes failed to score during the two-minute run. From that point on, the visitors were unable to get closer than seven points.

James Conti scored 11 points to lead Pacific Lutheran and MacTaggart, Schilling and Victor Bull all added 10 points apiece. Bull paced the Lutes with five rebounds. PLU 45 percent from the field (22-of-49), but made just 20 percent (4-of-20) from beyond the three-point line.

Hanson scored 24 points, including five three-point shots, to lead Platteville. Shaw added 18 points for the Pioneers, who shot 56 percent from the field (23-of-41) and 47 percent (8-of-17) from long range.

PLU's MacTaggart earned all-tournament honors after scoring 24 points and blocking six shots in two games.

- PLU -