WALLA WALLA, Washington – Freshman guard
Taj Phillips scored a season-high 20 points, but the Puget Sound men's basketball team lost at Whitman, 70-65, Saturday evening.
Phillips shot 7-for-16 from the floor and 3-for-6 from beyond the arc for the Loggers (7-8, 2-4 NWC).
Cal Hansen scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds against the Blues (5-8, 3-2 NWC).
Paul Johnson added 12 points.
The Loggers closed out the first half with an 8-2 run to take a 31-30 lead into the locker room.
Mussie Teclemariam began the run by hitting a layup assisted by Hansen with 4:39 on the clock. Puget Sound forced Whitman into a couple of turnovers, and Johnson nailed a couple of treys late in the period.
The Blues opened the second half with a 9-0 run, and they never trailed for the rest of the game.
The Loggers have a quick turnaround when they host Pacific Lutheran Tuesday, Jan. 18, at 8 p.m.