OLYMPIA, Wash. – Anthony Gittens scored 20 points to lead the Puget Sound men's basketball team to a 69-59 victory at Evergreen St. on Wednesday. The Loggers are now 8-0 on the season, which is their best start since the 1980-81 season when the Loggers were members of the NCAA Division II.
The eight-game winning streak to open the 2011-12 season is a program-best since joining the NCAA Division III before the 1999-2000 season.
After falling behind by six points in the first half, a jumper by Riggs Yarbro sparked a 30-7 Logger run over the final 11:45 of the half. A bucket from Gittens tied the score at 20-20 and Ryan Rogers had a lay up on the Loggers next possession to give them a lead they would hold the rest of the way.
By halftime, the Loggers held a 41-24 advantage. They shot 56.3 percent in the opening half while holding the Geoducks (1-9) to 22.9 percent shooting. The Geoduck surged in the second half and cut the lead to 47-40 but the Loggers pulled away down the stretch to hold on for the win.
Patrick Lewis and Tyrell Stephens led the Geoducks scoring effort with 15 points a piece. Marice Tolliver added 13 points and 10 rebounds. Derek Jobe added 11 points for the Loggers.
The Logger bench outscored the Geoduck bench 20-6 in the game led by Rogers and Yarbro with six points each.
The Loggers return to the floor Dec. 17 at New Hope Christian in Eugene, Ore.