Hot-Shooting Lutes Burn Whitman Men

News Release Date:
Friday, January 16

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Shooting 60 percent from the floor with six players in double figures, Pacific Lutheran picked up its first Northwest Conference victory of the season with a 105-97 decision over Whitman College Friday night in Sherwood Center.

Nick Stackhouse combined 25 points with 14 rebounds to power the Lutes, who improved to 7-6 on the season and 1-3 in the NWC.

Jordan Wheeler

Chris Faidley scored a game-high 29 points for Whitman, which saw its record slip to 6-8 overall and 2-3 in conference.

Pacific Lutheran led 51-42 at halftime and stretched its lead to 17 points, 74-57, with about 14 minutes left in the second half. Whitman uncorked a 10-0 run over the next three minutes to trim its deficit to 10 points, but Kyle MacTaggart answered that charge for the Lutes with a 3-pointer.

Whitman made another run inside the five-minute mark, getting back-to-back treys from Faidley and a bucket from Juan Pablo Alvarez to pull within 90-84 with four minutes left to play. But two Victor Bull free throws sparked an 11-2 PLU scoring spree that iced the victory for the visitors.

Bull had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Lutes, who also got 18 points from MacTaggart. Tony Polis added 15 points, Norman Edwards Jr. had 11, and Curtis Trondsen had 10.

Brandon Shaw had 19 points and five rebounds for Whitman. Jordan Wheeler chipped in with 15 points while Graham Brewer posted his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

The first half opened with a pair of wild swings. After the Lutes jumped in front 12-2 with Stackhouse and James Conti scoring four points apiece, Whitman came roaring back on a 16-2 run to lead 18-14. Brewer fueled the Missionary push with six points while Steve Campbell drained a three and Faidley converted a steal into a three-point play at the other end.

After the two teams deadlocked at 18, 21, 28 and 30, the Lutes pulled in front on an 8-2 run. Baskets by Faidley and Jordan Brandon brought the Missionaries back to within 38-36 with 3:30 left in the half, but Pacific Lutheran shot its way back to a nine-point lead by the break. 

Whitman stays at home Saturday to host Puget Sound in an 8 p.m. start. Pacific Lutheran travels to Spokane to play Whitworth at 6 p.m.

Box Score

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CONTACT: Dave Holden
Sports Information Director
Whitman College, Walla Walla, Wash.
holden@whitman.edu; (509) 527-5902