LACEY, Wash. - Taking on the 25th-ranked team in Division II, the 14th-ranked Division III Puget Sound Loggers couldn't complete the comeback against the Saint Martin's Saints, falling 83-78 in a non-conference men's basketball game on Saturday night in Lacey, Wash.

The Loggers (5-2) got off to a quick start, holding a seven-point lead less just three minutes in but the Saints quickly adjusted to the quick-offensive tempo of the Loggers.  SMU took their first lead of the game on a lay-up by Jeremy Green with 12:14 left to go in the first half.  The Saints pushed the lead into double-digits with 8:17 to go in the half and the lead continued to grow as Saint Martin's took the 51-35 lead into the halftime break.

In the second half, Puget Sound chipped away at the Saint's lead, getting it back down to 10 with 10:43 to go and back into single digits on a jumper by Austin Boyce (Kent, Wash./Kentwood) with 4:50 to go.  A made free throw by Jason Foster (Spanaway, Wash./Henry Foss) got the Loggers back within two points, 77-75, with 2:22 to go but the Loggers couldn't get a basket again until Antwan Williams (Portland, Ore./Madison) hit a three-ball with just one second to go as Puget Sound fell by a final of 83-78.

The Loggers were led by 21 points and 12 rebounds from senior Robert Krauel (Phoenix, Ariz./North Canyon).  Boyce finished with 19 on the night while Williams added 11 points in the loss.  The Loggers made 19-of-27 attempts from the charity stripe in a game that saw 51 personal fouls called.

Saint Martin's was led by 25 points from Jake Linton, who collected 15 of those on the line.  Blake Pool added 20 points to go with nine rebounds while Bill Richardson chipped in 17 points.

The Loggers now head into a big break with their mind firmly on their studies as they prepare for finals.  Puget Sound will next hit the hardwood on Dec. 28 when they take to the floor against Gustavus Adolphus in a neutral-site contest in Burlingame, Calif.

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