TACOMA, Washington – The Puget Sound men's basketball team had been accustomed to grabbing comeback victories in recent weeks. Tuesday night, however, the Loggers surrendered a double-digit lead to Pacific Lutheran as the Lutes sealed an 81-80 victory in the final seconds at Memorial Fieldhouse.
 
Puget Sound held a satisfying 25-10 lead after Drew Gillette hit a 3-pointer eight minutes into the game. Still, PLU quickly climbed back in it and tied the game, 41-41, at halftime.
 
In the second half, neither team led by more than three points until the Lutes hit a 3-pointer to go up 60-55 with 10:52 on the clock. Liam Ruttledge answered right back with a layup that kept the Loggers within one possession.
 
Three minutes later, Ruttledge scored again to give Puget Sound a 64-62 lead. Following a defensive stop, Grant Erickson scored in the paint to push Puget Sound's lead to 66-62.
 
The Loggers claimed the largest lead of the half for either team, 73-67, when Gillette drilled a 3-pointer with 5:45 on the clock.
 
Similarly to the first half, PLU battled back to get to within two, 75-73, with 4:13 to play. Dezman Baker swung momentum back to the Loggers when his 3-pointer put Puget Sound ahead by five, 78-73, with just under three minutes remaining.
 
From there, the Lutes went on a 6-0 run to go up 79-78 with under one minute left in regulation. Erickson responded by scoring along the baseline to put the Loggers up by one with 30 seconds left.
 
PLU's ensuing possession began with a missed jumper, but it was able to get the offensive rebound. The Lutes called timeout to come up with a new play, and they scored in the post to reclaim the lead with four seconds remaining.
 
After calling a timeout, Puget Sound pushed the ball up the floor and Taj Phillips put up a 3-pointer at the buzzer, but the would-be game-winning shot rimmed out.
 
Both Mussie Teclemariam and Erickson finished the game with 16 points and eight rebounds. Ruttledge and Gillette both scored 13 points, and Phillips added 10.
 
The Loggers aim to bounce back at home against Lewis & Clark Friday, Jan. 20, at 8 p.m.