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Al Kawashima

Men's Basketball

PLU Free Throws Thwart Eagle Come Back Attempt

Michael Dupree's 23 points would not be enough tonight.
Box Score KIRKLAND, Wash. – Pacific Lutheran used clutch free throw shooting down the stretch to hold off Northwest University, 68-61, in non-league play tonight. The Lutes hit 7 of 8 free throws in the final 1:58 of the game to hold on for their seventh victory of the season against one defeat. Northwest U missed five straight free throws in the final three minutes.

After PLU broke out to a 12-8 early lead, NU would come back to tie the game at 12-all and take a 15-12 lead at the 11 minute mark. It would be the only time the Eagles would lead the remainder of the game as the Lutes would outscore Northwest U 21-4 over the next eight minutes to lead 33-19 after Brandon Lester's 3-pointer with 3:44 left in the half. Two PLU free throws with six seconds left on the clock would give the Lutes a 37-24 lead at the half.

Pacific Lutheran would lead the entire second half and it looked as though they would win going away leading 55-40 with 8:39 to go, but the Eagles, playing without two starters, would cut the PLU lead to just two, 61-59, with 1:58 left in the game with Marko Nikolic offensive tip in. Trailing 63-59 with 58 seconds left, Jessie Norton would miss two free throws and PLU would step to the line and Dylan Foreman would sink two, putting the Lutes up 65-59 as three more Lute free throws would seal the victory.

Michael Dupree led Northwest U (5-7) with 23 points, 18 coming in the second half. Ben Tucakovic dropped in 16 points and had 11 rebounds for a double-double while the PLU defense held Dak Shagren to just two points on the night on 1-11 shooting. NU played without starters Zach Smith and Tomas Ogbaslassie who sat out with injuries. NU shot just 34 percent for the game and 50 percent from the free throw line (8-16).

Pacific Lutheran's (7-1) Dylan Foreman led the team with 20 points including 6 for 6 from the free throw line. Brandon Lester added 16 points while Bryce Miller grabbed 11 rebounds and scored 9 points. PLU shot 85 percent from the free throw line converting 17 of 20.

Northwest U will be at Seattle Pacific on Friday, Dec. 11 for the Oak Harbor Freight Lines Classic. The Eagles will play host SPU on Friday and Montana State Billings on Saturday.
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Marko Nikolic

#22 Marko Nikolic

F
6' 7"
Sophomore
Tomas Ogbaslassie

#15 Tomas Ogbaslassie

W
6' 5"
Senior
Dak Shagren

#21 Dak Shagren

G
6' 3"
Junior
Michael Dupree

#11 Michael Dupree

G
6' 1"
Junior
Ben Tucakovic

#20 Ben Tucakovic

P
6' 7"
Junior
Zach Smith

#30 Zach Smith

P
6' 5"
Senior
Jessie Norton

#25 Jessie Norton

G
6' 3"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Marko Nikolic

#22 Marko Nikolic

6' 7"
Sophomore
F
Tomas Ogbaslassie

#15 Tomas Ogbaslassie

6' 5"
Senior
W
Dak Shagren

#21 Dak Shagren

6' 3"
Junior
G
Michael Dupree

#11 Michael Dupree

6' 1"
Junior
G
Ben Tucakovic

#20 Ben Tucakovic

6' 7"
Junior
P
Zach Smith

#30 Zach Smith

6' 5"
Senior
P
Jessie Norton

#25 Jessie Norton

6' 3"
Freshman
G