Setting the Scene: With two games to play in the regular season, Pacific Lutheran University is just a win away from securing at least a share of its first Northwest Conference title since 1986.
Home Attendance Policy: Masks are required while inside Olson Gymnasium, regardless of vaccination status. Eating and drinking inside the building is also prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation and helping stop the spread of COVID-19.
Online Ticketing: The Lutes have made it easier for fans to attend home sporting events, signing a deal with HomeTown Ticketing to be the department's official electronic ticket provider. Lute fans can now purchase basketball tickets online at GoLutes.com/tickets or on the HomeTown Ticketing mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.
Series History: The Lutes and Loggers are meeting for the 150th time since the series began in 1940 with the Lutes holding a 78-71 edge in the series. PLU has won seven straight, including a 72-68 win back on Jan. 18 at UPS.
About the Lutes: PLU (17-6, 12-2 NWC) remains in the driver's seat for its first league crown since 1986, owning a one-game lead on Linfield University and Whitworth University with two games left in the regular season.
The Lutes have won seven straight, including a pair of wins over the weekend over the Whits. On Friday, PLU put the clamps on the Pirates in the second half, limiting the nationally-ranked squad to just 22 points over the final 20 minutes in a 64-48 victory. Seth Hall set the tone with 19 points while Jordan Thomas added 18 in the win.
A similar script unfolded on Saturday, with PLU outscoring Whitman College by 19 in the second half in a 78-54 blowout win. Ten Lutes scored in the game with Seth Hall netting a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds.
On Monday, Seth Hall was tabbed NWC Player of the Week, marking the third straight week a Lute has won the honor. Jordan Thomas won the award the week before while Hall was honored the week before that.
About the Loggers: Puget Sound (9-14, 4-10 NWC) heads to Olson Gymnasium having lost five of its last six games. The Loggers lone win during that stretch was Friday's 73-66 triumph over Whitman. On Saturday, the Loggers had a chance at the upset but stumbled down the stretch, falling 81-69 to Whitworth.
Paul Johnson paces the Loggers, scoring 19.2 points per game while Cal Hansen chips in 13.8 ppg and 7.7 rpg.
Home Cooking: The Lutes have turned Olson Gymnasium into a tough place for opposing teams to play. Pacific Lutheran has won 16 of its last 17 home games, including all nine home dates during the 2021-2022 season.
Stay connected to your favorite teams by downloading the official mobile app of the Pacific Lutheran University athletic department powered by SIDEARM Sports, available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
Featuring real-time news alerts, schedules, exclusive multimedia content, gameday details and more, the new PLU Athletics app is free and compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
To download the app to your smartphone or tablet, visit the Apple App Store (DOWNLOAD LINK) or Google Play (DOWNLOAD LINK) and search for "PLU Athletics."
Next Home Game:
Feb. 18: PLU hosts Linfield at 8 p.m.
PLU Non-Discrimination Policy: Pacific Lutheran University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator Jennifer Childress-White; 253-535-7361; TitleIX@plu.edu