TACOMA, Wash. – Dezman Baker and Taj Phillips scored a game-high 16 points each, but it wasn't enough in a dramatic loss for the Loggers as they fall to the Pacific University Boxers 77-69 on Saturday night in Memorial Fieldhouse. Sophomore Baker scored his fourth double-double of the season scoring 16 points and grabbing a game-high 15 boards. 

The first half was evenly matched with nine tied scores and 11 lead changes, the Loggers grabbed 21 rebounds while the Boxers grabbed 17. The greatest lead of the first half was after a layup from Rutherfurd at 10:30. The Loggers shot for 45.7%, while the Boxers shot for just 39.4%. 

The Boxers increased the offensive energy in the second half, pushing for a nine point run that was bookended by two jumpers from the Boxers Lucas Winkler the run ended at 12:02 left in regulation. The Boxers continued to stretch the advantage, leading by as much as 16 points with 10:18 remaining. Baker was fired up shooting for 50% from the floor adding 12 points and 11 rebounds in the second half alone. The Loggers continued to shoot but the ball just wasn't dropping, shooting for just 33.3% while the Boxers capitalized on eight turnovers from the Loggers to convert eight points. After a timeout called by the Loggers, Puget Sound still struggled to gain momentum, but with a minute remaining the Loggers managed to reduce the deficit to single-digits. Unfortunately, a game of cat and mouse ensued, leaving the Loggers in a free-throw competition they couldn't get ahead of. 

Hugo Rutherfurd shot for 50% overall from the field adding nine rebounds and two blocks, while Phillips added six assists and five rebounds and Liam Ruttledge followed with 10 points in the loss. 

The Loggers head to Oregon next weekend to face Lewis and Clark on Friday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. and Willamette on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. Willamette holds a 7-4 record in the NWC, while the Loggers are 7-4.