The Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team put the clamps on Whitworth University in the second half, holding the Pirates to just 22 second-half points and emerged victorious 64-48 inside a packed Olson Gymnasium. 
 
"I'm very proud of the guys' defensive effort tonight," said PLU head coach Chad Murray.  "We were locked in more than we've been all year on that end of the floor.  I thought we were a little over aggressive in the beginning of the game and we settled in and were really disciplined the rest of the way."
 
PLU (16-6, 11-2 NWC) put on a defensive clinic on Friday night, holding Whitworth to just 48 points, 38 below their season average and just 28 percent shooting in the second half.  The Pirates connected on just five of their 24 three-point tries on the night, making just 2-of-12 in the second half.  It was the lowest point total of the season for the conference rivals from Spokane. 
 
Leading 28-26 at the half, both teams were scoreless for the first 2:15 of the second frame until Sean McCurdy took a nice pass in the lane from Jordan Thomas to break the ice.  PLU slowly built their lead to seven with 10:18 remaining on a layup by Brett Williams and it hit double digits, 45-35, on a layup by Jordan Thomas at 7:59.  Slowly but surely, the Lutes muscled their way to a 14-point edge with 3:54 left and the lead hit 16 for the first of four times with 2:14 on a free throw by Jordan Thomas. 
 
The Pirates fouled multiple times in the final moments, but Seth Hall knocked down four straight free throws to keep them at bay.  Hall grabbed the final rebound with 22 seconds left and dribbled out the clock in front of the Lute student section surrounded by four teammates as Olson reached a fever pitch. 
 
"I can't thank the students and the other Lute faithful enough for how they represented tonight," said Murray.  "It was an incredible atmosphere and our players really got a boost from their energy.  I hope everyone will continue to come out because we aren't done yet."
 
Hall had 19 points to lead the attack and Thomas added 18 and both players pulled down eight rebounds.  Brett Williams chipped in 15 to aid the effort.  As a team, the Lutes shot an even 50 percent from the field and held the edge on the glass 34-30. 
 
The Lutes now own a half-game lead over Linfield and a one-game lead over Whitworth with three games remaining in the Northwest Conference race.  PLU has a quick turnaround tomorrow when they take on Whitman at 6 p.m.