PARKLAND - Despite shooting just 18-for-35 from the free throw line, Pacific Lutheran picked up a much-needed 74-68 victory over Whitman in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game played Friday night in Olson Auditorium.

In putting an end to a four-game conference losing skid, the Lutes improved to 5-13 overall and 3-6 in the NWC. Whitman is now 11-7 overall and 5-4 in the conference.

Pacific Lutheran could have given itself much more breathing room earlier in the game and certainly down the stretch had it shot better at the foul line. As it was, Drew Earnest hit all four of his charity tosses inside the final 25 seconds to keep the Lutes safely ahead of the Missionaries.

The game featured a harried, up-tempo pace and a total of 56 foul shots between the two teams.

The Lutes scored the game's first four points and played add on, building a 19-8 lead after about 8 1/2 minutes. Whitman came back to tie it at 23-23 on a three-pointer by Matt Mounier with 6:51 left in the half, and it took its first lead of the game at 26-25 on a three by Drew Raher about two minutes later. PLU regained the lead and led at the half, 30-28.

In the second half, the teams battled for the lead throughout the first 10 minutes. Mounier hit a pair at the foul line to give his team a 52-51 advantage at the 10-minute mark, but Cameron Reister drained three-pointers from the right side on consecutive PLU trips down the floor, and the Lutes were never headed.

That's not to say it didn't get close as the Missionaries pulled to within a point at 57-56 on a Josh Duckworth layup with 8:21 to play, but the Lutes kept the visitors at bay the rest of the way despite their foul shooting troubles.

Both Cameron Schilling and Bryce Miller had double-doubles to lead PLU. Schilling finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds and Miller had 10 points and 10 boards. Earnest added 12 points and Daniel Landram 10 for the Lutes. Landram led all players with five assists and he tied for game-high honors with three steals.

Mounier led all scorers with 22 points, followed by Duckworth with 19, and Ben Eisenhardt had eight rebounds for the visitors.

Both teams are back in action at 6 p.m. tomorrow, PLU hosting Whitworth and Whitman playing at Puget Sound.

- PLU -