LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Down by as many as 20 points in the second half, the University of Puget Sound men's basketball sliced the lead to five but fell 77-70 to Chapman on Saturday. Julian Fernandez scored 11 of his 16 points in the second half to lead the Logger charge.

"The last 10 minutes really showed what we are capable of doing," said head coach Justin Lunt. One positive to take away is that weren't going to quit and that shows that, even down 20 points, we are never out of a game."

Fernandez set a season-high with 16 points and led a trio of Loggers in double digits. Edric Egberaure added 14 points to the cause while Kaleb Shelton contributed 12 points and six rebounds.

The Loggers (2-3) were down by 19 points to the Panthers (3-1) as late as the 9:28 mark in the second half but stepped up the pressure to close within four points with 36 seconds left. However, the Panthers hit a couple key free throws and a dunk to buck the Logger charge.

Four Panthers hit double digits in scoring led by 21 points from Griffin Ramme and 18 points from Justin Riley. The Panthers shot 54.3 percent as a team and shot just a 11.1 three-point percentage in the game.

The Loggers shot 36.5 percent from the field and 37.5 percent beyond the arc. The Loggers shot nearly 47 percent from the field in the second half to stage the near comeback. They also forced 18 Panther turnovers, including 10 in the second half.

The Loggers will begin the NWC schedule next week when they welcome Willamette and Pacific to Memorial Fieldhouse next weekend.

"Everything we've done over the past five game is in preparation for next weekend," added Lunt. " We just need to bring it."