By Nick Barene, Sports Writer
The Pacific Lutheran University men’s game came down to the wire, but a foul shot with less than three seconds remaining saw the Boxers knock off the Lutes 54-51.
In the first half, both teams struggled to find their groove shooting the basketball. Both teams shot below 30 percent and scored 22 points apiece in the first half.
The second half saw more lead changes, and the two teams were tied at 51 late in the contest. With just 2.6 seconds left, PLU fouled the Boxers’ Landon Littlefield on a drive into the lane.
Littlefield was able to convert the shot before going to the free throw line. He missed the attempt, but the Lutes were unable to set up a game winning shot after coming down with the rebound.
The Lutes outrebounded the Boxers 41-29, but were unable to hold off the deep bench of the visitors, whose reserves scored 16 points.
The Lutes’ Johnny Tveter, Kai Hoyt and Arvid Isaksen all started their final home game for PLU. Hoyt totaled 10 points and added eight rebounds on the night. Isaksen scored nine points and pulled down nine rebounds. Tveter added in a hard fought six points.
The Lutes fell to 7-16 overall and 4-10 in Northwest Conference play. Pacific improved to 14-8 overall and 7-6 in the NWC. The Lutes will end the 2013-14 season this weekend in Oregon, taking on Willamette today and Linfield Saturday.
