FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Taj Phillips and Dezman Baker each dropped a game-high 21 points while Hugo Rutherfurd scored his first double-double with the Loggers, but it wasn't enough in a 77-71 loss to the Pacific University Boxers on Friday night. The defeat leaves the Loggers with a 1-2 record in the Northwest Conference, while the Boxers are also now 1-2 in the NWC so far this season.

Phillips added five steals, five rebounds, and four assists while Baker contributed eight rebounds, three blocks, and three steals in the loss. Freshman Hugo Rutherfurd scored 12 points going 6-of-9 from the floor, adding 11 rebounds and three blocks to the score. 

With four major lead changes in the first half the Loggers found a good rhythm in the paint after the Boxers went on a 9-point run with 14:40 min remaining. The Loggers quickly tied it back up three minutes later at 16-16 and took a 6-point lead of their own later, maintaining that lead until the final minutes of the half the Boxers tied it back up 36-36.

The Loggers jumped into the first half grabbing a short lead that was interrupted by two three-point plays and a jumper to take the lead back for the Boxers. The Loggers were down by 11 points with 7:41 remaining in regulation. The Loggers tied it back up 66-66 after a three-point play from Liam Ruttledge and four made free-throws from Baker, but the Boxers wouldn't give up. 

The game was close until the end when the Boxers caught consecutive jumpers to take a 5-point lead, the Loggers continued to shoot, but unfortunately the shots weren't dropping and the Loggers fell to the Boxers. 

The Loggers will be back in action tomorrow, Jan. 6, for a 6 p.m. tip in McMinnville, Ore. to face Linfield University.