FOREST GROVE, Ore. – The 22nd-ranked Puget Sound men's basketball team remained undefeated and handed Pacific its first loss of the season with a 67-61 win on Friday. The Loggers (6-0, 1-0 NWC) held off a late Pacific (4-1, 1-1 NWC) rally to capture the win.
The Loggers led by as many as 14 when Kaleb Shelton-Johnson's layup gave them a 40-26 lead with just under 17 minutes left in the second half. The Boxers battled back to make it a three-point game with 10:36 left and refused to go quietly.
The Loggers never trailed in the contest despite the Boxers continuing to surge. Charles Mosley cut the lead to two with 13 seconds left. However, Julian Fernandez made four clutch free throws down the stretch and the Logger defense held the Boxers scoreless to come away with the win.
"We hit big shots and they hit big shots," said head coach Justin Lunt. "This team showed a lot of maturity and was composed down the stretch. Julian hit some big free throws. I'm really proud of this team."
Fernandez finished with 10 points as one of three Loggers in double digits. Shelton-Johnson led the Loggers with 17 points. He also had seven rebounds. Anthony Gittens fell just one rebound shy of a double-double with 16 points and nine boards.
Colin Wester led the Boxers with a game-high 21 points. He also hit all four of the Boxers three-pointers. He was one of four Boxers in double digits.
The Loggers jumped out to an early lead as Shelton-Johnson hit a jumper and was fouled on the play in the Loggers first possession. He connected on the free throw to give the Loggers a 3-0 lead and the Loggers never trailed.
The Loggers will look to continue their hot start tomorrow with an 8 p.m. game at Willamette.