TACOMA, Washington – Paul Johnson scored 21 points, and Grant Erickson came up with his first double-double of the season as the Puget Sound men's basketball team edged past Lewis & Clark, 72-71, in Memorial Fieldhouse Saturday night.
 
Johnson shot 9-for-19 from the floor and 3-for-5 from 3-point range. It was his fourth game with at least 20 points this season. Erickson netted 10 points to go with 12 boards, and Cal Hansen finished with 16 points and nine rebounds.
 
The Loggers (7-6, 2-2 NWC) trailed 43-39 at halftime, but a trey from Johnson early in the second half made it a one-point game, 43-42. The Loggers' first lead of the second half, 46-45, came at the 14:48 mark when Hansen hit a shot from the paint.
 
Lewis & Clark (6-5, 0-3 NWC) briefly took a five-point lead, 55-50, with 12:31 on the clock. But three minutes later, Donovan Wilson hit a driving left-handed layup in traffic to cut the deficit to 58-57.
 
With six minutes left in regulation, Erickson put back an offensive rebound to tie the game, 61-61. Following a defensive stop, Hansen scored again in the paint to give Puget Sound a two-point lead.
 
The Pioneers' ensuing possession resulted in a turnover, and Will Pohland made them pay by hitting a 3-pointer that put the Loggers up, 66-61.
 
Lewis & Clark took a mid-range contested jumper at the final buzzer, but the would-be game-winning shot clanged off the left side of the hoop.
 
Puget Sound is on the road next weekend, starting with Whitworth Friday, Jan. 14, at 8 p.m.