Danny Brakebush went off for 26 points Friday night to lift the visiting Pacific Boxers past Pacific Lutheran, 81-73, in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game played in Olson Auditorium.

Brakebush, a freshman wing, drained four of his five three-point baskets in the second half to lead the Boxers to the victory. They are now 8-6 overall and 1-2 in the conference. Cameron Schilling scored 17 points to pace Pacific Lutheran, now 4-10 overall and 2-3 in the NWC.

With Pacific clinging to a 58-53 lead, Brakebush kocked down consecutive three-pointers from the top of the key to give the visitors a 64-55 lead with 4:59 to play. Colin Wester added a jumper to stretch the lead to 11 points, and then Brakebush added another three and a layup as the Boxers kept the Lutes at arm's length, 71-61, with 2:28 left.

PLU had one final push with Cameron Reister hitting three straight three-point shots over a one-minue period, the final one of those cutting the Lutes' deficit to 75-70 with 1:10 on the clock. Reister ended up 5-for-7 from beyond the arc in the game.

With the game literally on the line - in this case the free throw line - Pacific went 6-for-8 inside the final minute.

Joining Schilling in double figures for the Lutes were Bryce Miller and Reister with 15 each and Daniel Landram with 10. Schilling and Miller both had seven rebounds to lead all players in that category.

The Lutes shot 49 percent overall 27-for-55) and 60 percent (9-for-15) from three-point range, but they hurt themselves by making just 10 of their 19 free throw opportunities.

Colin Wester had a strong game for Pacific with 17 points, eight assists and three steals, while Mitch Wettig scored 11 and Charles Mosley 10 for the Boxers.

The Lutes are back in action at 8 p.m. Saturday when they host the Willamette Bearcats in Olson Auditorium.

- PLU -