Second Half Surge Lifts Lutes to First Win

EUGENE, Ore. - Pacific Lutheran parlayed an 18-4 run during the middle of the second half on Saturday night to record its first men's basketball victory of the season, a 67-63 non-conference decision over host Northwest Christian University.

After Erik Quick-Warner's free throw gave the Beacons a 49-39 lead with 13:12 remaining in the second half, the Lutes (1-4) scored 18 of the next 24 points to take a 57-53 lead with 6:26 left. Andrew Earnest and Curtis Trondsen both knocked down a pair of three-point shots to highlight the run.

Northwest Christian (9-3) regained the lead by two points with 1:57 left, but James Conti tied it with a pair of free throws with 1:37 remaining. NWC's Andrew Miller scored to give his team a 63-61 lead, but PLU's Trondsen took a feed from Conti with 11 seconds left and drilled a jumper to tie the score. At the same time that Trondsen was shooting, Conti was fouled, and the sophomore point guard drained a pair of free throws to put the Lutes on top, 65-63.

The Beacons had an opportunity to tie the game inside the final five seconds, but Victor Bull forced a turnover, was fouled and hit both foul shots with three seconds left for the final margin.

"We really toughed it out in the final 10 minutes," said PLU head coach Steve Dickerson. "We have a tough pre-conference schedule and this was a really good game to win."

Conti finished the game with 15 points to lead the Lutes, and he tied for game-high honors with five assists. Earnest, a freshman guard, scored a career-high 14 points and Trondsen, a junior wing, added 12 for the winners.

Michael Van Loon topped the Beacons with 16 points, followed by Voogd with 12. The loss brought an end to the Beacons' nine-game winning streak.

Pacific Lutheran shot 44 percent (24-for-54) from the field and 35 percent (7-for-20) from beyond the three-point arc. Earnest finished the game with four three-point baskets. The Lutes had sharp marksmanship at the foul line, hitting 86 percent (12-for-14) for the game.

The Beacons shot 53 percent (24-for-45) overall but were just 1-for-9 from long range. The Lutes owned a slight 29-28 rebounding edge and both teams finished with 17 turnovers.

- PLU -