TACOMA, Washington – Following just two days of rest, the Puget Sound men's basketball team will host Pacific Lutheran Tuesday, Jan. 18, at 8 p.m. The Loggers host Pacific later this week Friday, Jan. 21, at 8 p.m.
 
Rivalry renewed
Tuesday is the season's first matchup between the Loggers and Lutes. PLU has won six consecutive games against Puget Sound – including four wins during the shortened 2020-21 season.
 
Taj stands tall
Freshman point guard Taj Phillips scored a season-high 20 points at Whitman (Jan. 15), shooting  7-for-16 from the floor and 3-for-6 from 3-point range. He is the second Logger freshman in as many years to have a 20-point game. Last year, Paul Johnson scored 27 points against Multnomah (March 11, 2021).
 
Not taken for Granted
Grant Erickson's last four games include his first-career double-double against Lewis & Clark (Jan. 8), when he scored 10 points and pulled down 12 boards. In his last four games, Erickson is averaging 12 points, 6.3 rebounds, and is shooting 58.8-percent from the floor.
 
Paul's ride
Paul Johnson is the conference's third-leading scorer, averaging 19.4 points per game. He is tied for the second-most 3-point makes (32) while shooting 45.1-percent from distance.
 
Non-stop effort
Puget Sound is allowing 71.4 points per game, which is the second-lowest mark in the NWC.
 
Scouting Pacific Lutheran (9-5, 4-1 NWC)
The Lutes have won two of their last three games – a stretch that includes a 97-69 loss at No. Whitworth (Jan. 15). PLU allows the fewest points per game (67.8) in the NWC. On the other end of the floor, the Lutes have the second-best field-goal percentage (48.9-percent). Seth Hall is the NWC's second-leading scorer (21.0), Jordan Thomas ranks No. 2 in assists per game (4.6), and Sean McCurdy is the NWC's third-leading rebounder (7.2).
 
Scouting Pacific (5-8, 1-3 NWC)
The Boxers' two most recent games needed extra time. Pacific lost to Linfield in two overtimes, 95-75 (Jan. 11), and it beat Lewis & Clark in overtime, 83-75 (Jan. 14). The Boxers take on Whitman (Jan. 18) and Whitworth (Jan. 19) on the road for a couple of make-up games this week. Pacific is shooting a conference-worst 42.7-percent from the floor, and the defense is allowing 90.2 points per game. Three Boxers average double-digits in scoring: Ethan Chung (13.8), Mario Mora (13.6), Jacob Bolger (13.4).