TACOMA, Wash. – In a must-win match-up, the Puget Sound men's basketball team suffered a 74-69 defeat to Whitman College on Friday night in Memorial Fieldhouse. Taj Phillips' eight assists propelled him past the previous Division III-era Logger Men's Basketball single-season assists record of 151, set in 2009 by Antwan Williams. Phillips has now assisted 155 plays this season, averaging 6.45 assists per game. With the loss, the Puget Sound Loggers drop to 9-6 in the Northwest Conference, while the Whitman Blues improve to 12-3, tying with Whitworth University. 

The game against Whitman was fiercely contested featuring nine lead changes and 12 tied scores. Freshman Hugo Rutherfurd was instrumental for the Loggers with his double-pump fake that couldn't be stopped by the defense as he tallied 12 points, alongside Phillips who also scored 12 points in the second half. Rutherfurd totaled four blocks and shot for 66.7% overall from the field. In a game that was dominated by free-throws, the Blues shot twice as many free-throws as the Loggers going 25-for-26 from the line, although the Loggers were 11-for-13, it was not enough in the loss.

Rutherfurd jumped out to the first four points, but the Blues would quickly tie it up. The greatest lead of the first half was after freshman Zane Miller converted three-point play with 5:05 left on the clock. Fouls became an issue for the Loggers from the get-go. The score going into the second half was a narrow 32-31 lead in favor of the Blues.

In the second half, the Loggers fell behind trailing by seven with 9:13 left in regulation, Rutherfurd and Baker were able to repair the damages, but the duo couldn't hold off an inevitable free-throw ending. The Loggers would tie it up once more 57-57 with 4:25 left on the clock before the Blues seized control to secure the victory. 

Whitman College's Ali Efe Isik scored the game-high 22 points adding nine rebounds. Puget Sounds Dezman Baker delivered 10 points and eight boards. Phillips scored a team-high 21 points going 9-for-14 from the field. The Loggers scored 36 points in the paint while Whitman only managed 24 points in the paint. 

The Loggers finish out their regular season against Whitworth University tomorrow, February 17th at 6 p.m. in Memorial Fieldhouse. The Loggers will honor three seniors on their accomplishments in athletics at the University of Puget Sound.