Cameron Schilling never gave a straight answer on why Friday was the night to wear his shiny, sky-blue basketball shoes for Pacific Lutheran University.
Maybe it was because he was in the mood for something different. Maybe it was also because the Lutes needed their Northwest Conference outlook brightened after a tough loss last Sunday at George Fox.
When the moments are tough, PLU usually gets tougher – and the Lutes bottled up Linfield College, 68-53, on Friday at Olson Auditorium.
James Conti scored 16 points. Schilling added 15, and Andrew Earnest had 11 as the Lutes (9-9, 6-3 NWC) are now tied with three other teams for second place in the league.
Earnest’s 3-pointer early in the second half blew this game wide open, starting a 10-2 run that gave the Lutes a 45-30 lead with 16 minutes, 5 seconds remaining. PLU has now won three games in a row at home.
There was a feeling of satisfaction afterward. Prior to that, PLU coach Steve Dickerson was on pins and needles this week.
First, there was the defeat – a 53-52 buzzer-beater at George Fox. Then, Dickerson saw his two standouts, Conti (hand) and Schilling (foot), so hobbled, they missed two days of practice.
But both suited up Friday, and once again were instrumental – Conti with his fast hands generating steals on defense, and Schilling making a few 3-pointers.
“Very resilient,” Dickerson said.
That is not to say the days had not become long before the game.
“Yeah, I struggled with that loss … because I hate losing,” Schilling said. “But this is something we kind of pride ourselves on, just being tough.”
At Puget Sound 85, Willamette 64: A 10-0 Loggers run, over a 21/2-minute span in the first half, broke the game open and got UPS (14-4, 6-3) rolling at Memorial Fieldhouse.
Fourteen different Loggers scored, led by Edric Egberuare’s 12 points.
Egberuare’s jumper broke a 14-14 tie, and started the spurt. The Loggers also got inside baskets from Anthony Gittens and Rex Holmes. By the end of it, UPS had a 24-14 advantage with 9:01 to go in the first half.
WOMEN
At Puget Sound 70, Willamette 51: Kelsey McKinnis had a game-high 18 points, and the Loggers (10-8, 6-3) forced 24 Bearcats turnovers in notching an easy victory at Memorial Fieldhouse.
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Amanda Forshay and McKinnis broke a 6-6 tie, and UPS never trailed thereafter.
Linfield 59, at PLU 48: With the game tied at 41, the Wildcats went on an 8-2 run midway through the second half, and held off the Lutes in Parkland to snap a five-game skid.
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