PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Loggers come up just short, dropping their game against the Lewis & Clark River Otters 67-64. 

How it Happened
The first half was full of solid defensive play, as the Loggers went back and forth with the River Otters. Zane Miller got the Logs rolling, knocking down two quick buckets. Sandwiched between the two, Ian Cook found Hugo Rutherfurd for a fantastic alley-oop jam. Rutherfurd continued to show out, knocking down his second three in two games to put the Loggers up 9-4. 

The River Otters climbed back into the game, but another Miller gave the Loggers a two-point lead. Dante Deshautelle then drove to the basket, making a tough bucket through contact to keep the Logs ahead. He cashed in for another bucket, and Trevon Hamilton hit a deep ball to make it 19-16 with five to go. The defense took over, and a Dezman Baker hook gave the Loggers back the lead. The River Otters hit a three, making the score 23-25 at half. 

The teams traded buckets to start the second half, as Cook, Miller, and Rutherfurd all drilled threes to give the Loggers a one-point lead. The River Otters went on a run of their own, pulling ahead by five before Cook drove in a layup. Lewis & Clark extended their lead to nine, holding it there for a couple of possessions. 

Rutherfurd got the Loggers back into it, hitting a hook shot and slamming down an alley-oop from Zane Miller to pull the Loggers within four. With two minutes left, the Loggers started to crawl back into the game. After the River Otters extended their lead to six, Rutherfurd hit two free throws to pull within four. The squads went back and forth in the scoring, with Hamilton hitting a couple of buckets to keep the Loggers in the game. 

The River Otters missed a free throw, giving the Loggers an extra possession. Hamilton took advantage, drilling a three to pull within one. After two River Otter free throws, the Loggers had one final chance, calling a timeout with five seconds to go. After a well-drawn plan, a missed Aaydan Saucedo three meant the Loggers fell just short. Lewis & Clark took this one, 67-64. 

Top Performers
Rutherfurd played well, picking up 16 points on 6-15 shooting from the field. Hamilton finished with 13 points and six boards, Miller finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, and Cook had 10 points and seven rebounds. 

Coach's Thoughts
"Defense gave us a chance in the first half but we never quite got our offense going," said Logger head coach Aubrey Shelton. "Credit Lewis and Clark for outplaying us. Need to find a way to flush this quickly and prepare for PLU Tuesday."

What Happens Next
The Loggers have concluded their four-game road trip, and look to bounce back against Pacific Lutheran on Tuesday, February 3rd. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm.