PARKLAND, Wash. -- The Loggers cruise to a (Score) victory over the Lutes, continuing their impressive run to start conference play. 

How it Happened
The first half was all Loggers, controlling the game from the first tip. Trevon Hamilton got the Logs rolling, scoring on the first offensive possession of the ball game. Ian Cook and Zane Miller then got in the action, as a driving layup by Cook and a triple by Miller gave the Loggers a quick 7-3 lead. The Lutes had a run of their own, tying the game at 12 apiece, but the Loggers took off from there. 

They scored 19 straight points on the Lutes. Yes, that's correct -  the Loggers went on a 19-0 run in a seven-minute span, as multiple Loggers got on the board. Dante Deshautelle got his first points of the game, Beckett Turner made two layups in a row, as the Loggers continued to put offensive and defensive pressure on the Lutes. Several free throws capped off the Loggers' scoring, as they extended their lead to 44-22 at the half. 

The Loggers started the second half well, extending their lead to 25 thanks to a layup by Kobe Smith and a Miller layup. The Lutes started chipping away at Puget Sound's lead, though, as with 11 minutes left, the Logger lead had shrunk to 15. A Hamilton three helped the team bounce back, and a jumper by Hugo Rutherfurd made it 57-42. 

The final four minutes saw a shift in momentum towards PLU, as Puget Sound's lead went from 12 to six with 1:35 remaining. The Loggers hit several key free throws down the stretch, though, as Turner and Hamilton helped the Loggers get back to a three-possession lead. The Lutes hit a three directly after, draining another to cut the lead to three. Despite the comeback, two final free throws by Hamilton sealed the deal. The Loggers came out victorious, 66-61. 

Top Performers
Hamilton finished with a team-high 18 points, going 2-3 from beyond the arc and a perfect 4-4 from the line. Zane Miller also played well, finishing with 11 points and 6 rebounds, while also going 2-3 from deep. 

Coach's Thoughts
"I thought we played some of our best basketball of the season for the first 25 minutes," said Logger head coach Aubrey Shelton. "The energy and enthusiasm our team displayed during that stretch was impressive and fun to coach. Trevon was a dominant force and set the tone for us on both ends of the court.  Wasn't a pretty finish by any stretch, but anytime you can win at that place you take it."

What Happens Next
The Loggers head to Salem, Ore. to take on the Willamette Bearcats on Saturday, January 10th. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 pm.