Maybe the early spoils of a 10-game winning streak, or being ranked the No. 12 men’s basketball team in the country got in the heads of the Puget Sound Loggers players.
Even former all-Northwest Conference forward Robert Krauel noticed it at their previous game. He mentioned to UPS coach Justin Lunt that it did not seem the players were active enough on defense.
“(Krauel) goes, ‘That might have been the first game I have seen in a long time where we did not get more than 15 tips (disrupting passes),’ ” Lunt said. “That is not like us – we’ve got to get 30 or 40.”
At least the message was heard Friday. An alert UPS team showed progress on both ends in its 72-55 Northwest Conference victory over Linfield College at Memorial Fieldhouse.
Senior Kaleb Shelton-Johnson led the Loggers with 18 points on 8-for-9 shooting from the field. Freshman Derek Jobe added 14. UPS also forced 17 turnovers by the Wildcats – 13 of them steals.
More importantly, the Loggers (12-4 overall, 4-3 NWC) snapped their three-game skid.
Midway through the first half, they broke away behind a 16-7 run, scoring seven consecutive times they touched the ball.
They got it inside to Shelton-Johnson, or scored from long range on 3-pointers by Rex Holmes and Ryan Rogers.
Rogers’ basket gave UPS a 31-18 lead at the 7:14 mark of the first half,
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
At UPS 65, Linfield 57: The Loggers won because they made three throws down the stretch (8-for-8 over the final 4:26) and the Wildcats did not (missed final five attempts).
UPS’ last field goal came on Ashley Agcaoili’s baseline jumper with 5:40 remaining.
The Loggers (8-7, 4-2 NWC) were led by Kelsey McKinnis’ 17 points. Erin Stumbaugh added 12.
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