Setting the Scene: The Pacific Lutheran University men's basketball squad closes out the season tonight hosting in-state nemesis Whitman College inside Olson Gymnasium. Tonight's game is also senior night with the Lutes honoring the 2026 senior class.
Series History: Pacific Lutheran and Whitman have battled 132 times since the rivalry began during the 1953-1954 season with PLU holding a 79-53 advantage in the series. PLU has won two of the last three meetings, including a 72-66 victory in Walla Walla back on Jan. 23.
About the Lutes: Pacific Lutheran (11-12, 5-9 NWC) finished off its road slate last weekend, splitting a pair of games in Oregon. The Lutes fell 74-64 to Linfield University last Friday evening before laying the hammer on Pacific University the following night, blowing out the Boxers 94-49 behind a record setting effort from beyond the arc.
Last Friday saw the host Wildcats pull away over the final seven minutes of the first half, building a 12-point halftime buffer. The lead extended to 17 but a 15-4 Lute run reduced the gap to just six with 10 minutes left in the second half. A Jamie McGrail three with 3:06 left made it a five-point gap but the were held scoreless the rest of the game as Linfield held on for the win. Ben Tellez hit five three-pointers and finished with a game-high 23 points while Henry Smith added 13 points.
The Lutes were firing on all cylinders the following night, draining five straight threes to open he game in the lopsided win. Ben Tellez sunk a school single-game record 12 threes while becoming just the eighth Lute to score 40 points in a game. As a team, the Lutes drained 19 three pointers, which is believed to be a school record. Plus finished the night shooting a blistering 50 percent from beyond the arc. Tellez's performance over the two games made him a slam dunk for NWC Player of the Week, becoming the third different Lute to tally the award this season.
Ben Tellez has scored at least 19 points in each of the last night games, including two games of more than 30 points. The senior sharpshooter leads the team in scoring, averaging 17.7 points per game with a team-best 24 steals. Henry Smith offers 11.2 ppg while Dom Perasso chips in 9.8 ppg and 4.0 rebounds per game.
Record Book Watch: Ben Tellez has drained 69 three-pointers this season which ranks as the eighth most in single season history. The California native is just three way from fourth place, four away from third place and eight threes shy of second place, held by Chris Pierce who hit 77 during the 1996-1197 campaign. Bob Barnette is the all-time single season record holder, sinking 90 during the 1986-1987 campaign.
Road to 100: Head Coach Chad Murray collected his 100th career win at PLU in an 80-61 victory over Linfield University back on Jan. 17, becoming the sixth coach in school history to log 100 wins. Murray is the first since his predecessor Steve Dickerson did so (116 wins from 2006-2017). Ed Anderson (1975-1983) sits with 119 career wins while Marv Harshman (1945-1958), Gene Lundgaard (1958-1975), and Bruce Haroldson (1983-2002) are all members of the 200-win club at PLU with 235, 281, and 250 wins, respectively.
Lucky Seven: The Lutes are shooting for their seventh straight winning season under Head Coach Chad Murray. The PLU men's basketball program hasn't had seven consecutive winning seasons since doing so from 1965 to 1972 under the direction of PLU Hall of Fame Coach Gene Lundgaard.
REcord setting Night
In case you missed it, we have you covered with all 12 threes from Ben Tellez's record setting night against Pacific.
Lutes in the Limelight: The Lutes have won four NWC Player of the Week awards of the season. Dom Perasso was recognized for his output during the California trip on Nov. 11, Charlie Kapranos secured the award on Nov. 18 and again on Dec. 8 while Ben Tellez captured the honor this Monday.
About the Blues: Whitman (9-14, 4-10 NWC) heads into the weekend looking to snap a two-game slide and bust out of a funk of having lost four of its last five. Whitman began the month of February with a rough 80-46 setback against in-state rival Whitworth University but rebounded to open a three-game homestand with a 64-40 thrashing of Linfield University on Feb. 7. Last weekend wasn't as kind to the Blues, stumbling 84-79 to George Fox University and 68-58 to Lewis & Clark College.
Against George Fox, the visitors built a 10-point halftime gap and were able to maintain that lead over the second half despite the Blues getting 26 points from Jacob Fotu who finished 10-for-14 from the field.
Fotu again emerged as the leading scorer against the River Otters, dropping 15 in a game Whitman was held to just 24 points in the opening stanza.
Three Blues average double figure scoring with Ali Eve Isik leading the way with a 14.4 points per game average while also netting a team-best 71 assists, 26 steals, and 10 blocks. Jacob Fotu adds 11.3 ppg while Milos Sarenac offers 11.2 ppg and a team-high 9.1 rebounds per game.
Staying in State: The Lutes opened the season in California but then played 11 straight games inside the State of Washington. That included nine home games inside Olson Gymnasium— three of which to start Northwest Conference play. Sandwiched around those home games was a short trip down I-5 to face both Evergreen State College and Saint Martin's University.
Thank you seniors!
Over the last four seasons, the Lutes have won 52 games, including 30 Northwest Conference games, and 29 games inside Olson Gymnasium. We salute this years seniors— Dom Perasso, Julian Brown, Ben Tellez, and Mack Hepper.
Welcome Back Special Olympics!
Members of Pierce County Special Olympics participated in a clinic earlier this winter and are back on campus today, participating in a halftime exhibition during both games today. Following a strong performance at regionals, 30 athletes have qualified to compete at the 2026 Winter State Games in Wenatchee, including players from the PC Wildcats, PC Ballers, and PC Lightning.
NWC Coaches' Poll
This October, the Lutes were picked to finish tied for third in the league standings with crosstown nemesis University of Puget Sound, both collecting 44 points. NWC heavyweight Whitworth sat atop the poll with 64 points.
Trailblazing NIL the D3 Way: PLU Athletics continues to lead the way nationally in Name, Image, and Likeness, unveiling the Luteville Marketplace last fall 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.
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.
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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