PLU Edges Northwest University
PARKLAND, WA - Pacific Lutheran University defeated Northwest U. in a close, 63-60 contest tonight in Olson Auditorium. The Lutes held NU to 37.7% shooting and the night and forced 15 turnovers which proved costly for the Eagles.
PLU broke out to a 11-4 first half lead but the Eagles came back to tie the game at 11 with 12:14 left in the half. Four ties and lead changes would continue until the the 4:19 mark when PLU's Josh Dressler's lay up put the Lutes up 23-22 and they would lead for the remainder of the half and take a 28-24 advantage into the locker room.
With the game tied at 28, PLU's Scott McDaniels' lay-up at 18:09 would put the Lutes in the lead for the next eleven minutes. With PLU leading 49-41, Northwest would go on an 11-0 run to take the lead 52-49 with 5:03 left on the clock. But PLU would go on a 7-0 run of theiur own to put the Lutes back up by four, 56-52 with 3:57 left in the game. Two Greg George lay-ups would bring NU back to within one at 61-60 with 52 seconds left in the contest but a jumper by the Lutes Josh Dressler would seal the victory for PLU with 20 seconds remaining.
Dressler led PLU (3-2) with 26 points while teammate Scott McDaniels dropped in 12 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Landon Heidenreich led the Lutes with 10 rebounds as PLU out rebounded NU 45-33. PLU shot 40% for the game and 46% from 3-point range including 55% shooting in the second half.
Northwest (6-4, 2-0 CCC) was led by junior Eddie Coulson (N. Las Vegas, NV) with 19 points and freshman Greg George (Seattle, WA) finished with 11 points and 7 rebounds. NU's cold 37% shooting from 2-point range continiued with 36.8% shooting from the 3-point arc.
Northwest travels to Newberg, Oregon tomorrow to take on George Fox at 8:00 p.m.