Lutes Face Saint Martin's Before Christmas Break

COMING UP: Pacific Lutheran, 2-4 overall this season, takes a two-game winning streak into Monday night's contest against NCAA Division II Saint Martin's University at Marcus Pavilion in Lacey. PLU plays its final non-conference game at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, when it travels to Burnaby, B.C., to face the Simon Fraser University Clan.

A NEW YEAR AND A NEW CONFERENCE SEASON: PLU starts Northwest Conference play on Jan. 2 when it travels to McMinnville, Ore., to face the Linfield Wildcats. The following day, the Lutes tip off against the Pacific Boxers in Forest Grove, Ore. Both of those games start at 6 p.m.

LUTES VS. SAINTS: The Saints have won four straight games against PLU, though Pacific Lutheran leads the all-time series, 62-41. Saint Martin's defeated PLU last season, 99-77, and in 2007-08 it was a much closer 92-86 victory for the Saints over the Lutes. Both of those games were played in Lacey. PLU's most recent victory in the series came during the 1995-96 season when the Lutes took a 76-72 win. Blake Poole, a 6-6, 250-pound forward, averages a double-double for the Saints with nearly 23 points and 12 rebounds per game. Keith Cooper, a former PLU assistant coach, is the Saint Martin's head coach. The Saints are 7-1 overall this season.

1-2 PUNCH AND A KNOCKOUT: Sophomore point guard James Conti and freshman guard Cameron Reister both made big plays inside the final 3:30 of the game as Pacific Lutheran rallied for a 67-64 non-conference men's basketball victory over the visiting Northwest University Eagles last Saturday night in Olson Auditorium. PLU trailed, 59-52, following a three-point play by Northwest's Greg George with 4:50 remaining in the game. The Lutes whittled their deficit to 60-56 when Conti and Reister combined on a series of game-changing plays. First, Conti fed Reister for a three-point basket with 3:14 left to make it 60-59. On the other end of the floor, Conti stole the ball and drove to the basket. Though he missed a contested layup, he hustled for the rebound and fed the ball to Reister, who buried another trey to make it 62-60 in favor of the Lutes. Conti again stole the ball and raced in for a layup to make it 64-60 with 2:30 left. After Blake Solomon hit a trio of free throws to cut Northwest's deficit to 64-63, Victor Bull scored a layup for the Lutes, making it 66-63. George converted a free throw for the Eagles with 1:17 left, and in the closing seconds Bull got a hand on a Northwest field goal attempt, leading to a foul with five seconds remaining. PLU's Gabe Smith made the second try, giving his team a 67-64 lead, and Solomon missed a three-point try as the buzzer sounded, giving the Lutes the victory. Kyle MacTaggart and Curtis Trondsen both scored 13 points to lead the Lutes, who also got 11 points from Bull, 10 from Contie and nine from Reister. Bull grabbed a team-high eight boards for the Lutes, whoalso got four assists from Conti.

FUNDRAISER NETS ALMOST $4,000: The Pacific Lutheran University men's and women's basketball programs presented the Lakewood Police Independent Guild (LPIG) with checks totaling $3,958.40 to benefit the families of the four Lakewood Police officers slain in Parkland on Nov. 29. The money was raised through donations, sales of merchandise and concessions at PLU's home men's basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 12, against Northwest University, which donated $500 toward the cause. Men's basketball coach Steve Dickerson, women's coach Kelly Robinson, and players Gabe Smith and Jordan Westering made the presentation to Lakewood Police Department patrol officer Jeremy Vahle, who also serves as the LPIG vice president. There was no charge for admission to the game, Dickerson said, adding that the outpouring of donations was purely the response of a community wanting to show support for all those who protect and serve. "Pride and compassion resonated throughout Parkland on Saturday night," he said. 

ON THE AIR: You can hear the PLU at Saint Martin's game locally on KLAY 1180 AM and online at http:www.klay1180.com with Scotty Overbo calling the action.

- PLU -