Setting the Scene: The Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball team returns to the friendly confines of Olson Gymnasium riding a two-game win streak as they host Northwest Conference rival Lewis & Clark College.
Series History: The Lutes and Pioneers have battled 138 times on the hardwood since the series began during the 1938-1939 campaign with PLU holding a 77-61 edge in the all-time series.
The Lutes swept the series last season and have won eight of the last 10 meetings. The Lutes topped the Pios 75-58 last season inside Olson Gymnasium before earning a 74-63 victory on the road in Portland.
About the Lutes: Pacific Lutheran (6-9, 3-3 NWC) returns home to Olson Gymnasium with a modest two game winning streak. PLU's good fortune's began last Tuesday night, grinding out a 71-69 victory over crosstown rival University of Puget Sound.
The host loggers hit seven of 11 three-pointers in the opening half but the Lutes weathered the storm, using a late 7-0 run to rake control. Ben Tellez headlined the night with 17 points while Brandin Riedel had 14 along with six rebounds.
Three days later, the Lutes picked up another nail biting win on the road, escaping Salem, Oregon with a 76-73 victory over Willamette University. PLU trailed by 11 early in the second half but battled back, utilizing a 9-0 run to take the lead for good in a game PLU had five players in double figures.
Julian Brown was seven-for-12 from the floor, scoring 16 points while Ben Tellez and Miles Nash both had 13 points.
Miles Nash is PLU's leading scorer, averaging 12.8 points per game while also leading the team in assists with 3.4 per game. Brandin Riedel is shooting 58.4 percent from the floor and averages 10.7 ppg and a team-best 5.7 rebounds per game as the only Lute to start all 15 games this winter. Ben Tellez is the third Lute averaging in double figures. The sharpshooter leads the team in threes with 25 and nets 10,1 ppg.
About the Pioneers: Lewis & Clark (8-7, 4-2 NWC) heads to Tacoma riding a two-game win streak. The Pios edged Linfield University 63-61 last Friday before securing a 69-58 home win over Puget Sound the following evening.
Lewis & Clark's two losses in conference play have come on the road against the Whits, falling 66-42 to Whitman College back on Jan. 10 and a 76-75 overtime heartbreaker to then No. 17 Whitworth University the following night.
Against the Loggers, L&C built a seven point halftime lead and had four players in double figures. That included Griffin Datcher IV dropping 13 points and Kody Uyesugi coming off the bench and matching Datcher's production with 13 points in just 21 minutes of action.
Sam Henderson is the Pios' top offensive threat, averaging 10.5 points per game. Andre Treadwell (9.7 ppg), Mikey Medlock Jr. (9.4 ppg), and Griffin Datcher IV (9.3 ppg) are a;; contributing just a shade under 10 points per game.
Sebastian DePrez is the team's top rebounder, hauling in 6.4 rebounds per game while Datcher adds 4.7 rpg.
Home Sweet Home: Olson Gymnasium is a tough venue for opposing teams with the Lutes boasting a 32-18 record inside the facility since the 2020-2021 season.
Luteville Highlights
Check out the highlights from PLU's last homestand against Linfield and George Fox.
NWC Preseason Coaches' Poll
Trailblazing NIL the D3 Way: PLU Athletics continues to lead the way nationally in Name, Image, and Likeness, unveiling the Luteville Marketplace through the department's partnership with Opendorse. But don't stay on the sidelines, get involved and connect with PLU student-athletes on the Luteville Marketplace: LINK
The Luteville Marketplace is the first dedicated NIL marketplace in Division III on the Opendorse platform that directly connects student-athletes with fans, supporters, and business partners in an easy to use website.
Last spring PLU became just the second Division III school in the nation and the first school in any division in the State of Washington to partner with Athlete's Thread. Athlete's Thread allows every Lute student-athlete to sell customizable gear and jerseys with their name and number and receive monetary compensation for a portion of each sale. Check out the link above to order your gear today!
Stay connected to your favorite teams by downloading the official mobile app of the Pacific Lutheran University athletic department powered by SIDEARM Sports, available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
Featuring real-time news alerts, schedules, exclusive multimedia content, gameday details and more, the new PLU Athletics app is free and compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
Next Home Game:
Jan. 25: Pacific at 4 p.m.
PLU Non-Discrimination Policy: Pacific Lutheran University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator Jennifer Childress-White; 253-535-7361; TitleIX@plu.edu