Hope scores 17 as win streak ends at four games
OLYMPIA, Wash. – With just eight players suited, The Evergreen State College Geoducks saw their win streak end at four as the Pacific Lutheran Lutes used a deep bench to collect an 86-69 win in a non-conference men’s basketball game on Tuesday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.
In the first half, the game opened up evenly as neither team was able to build a sizable lead. The Lutes broke open the game midway through the half, using a 12-3 run to pull ahead by double-digits with 6:45 left in the period. The Evergreen defense found a rhythm in the final four minutes, limiting PLU to just four points and allowing the offense to close the gap back into single digits, 42-33, at halftime.
In the opening period, the Geoducks were led by eight points each from Josh Troyer (Vancouver, Wash./Lower Columbia CC) and Johnny Sarysz (Seattle, Wash./South Puget Sound CC). Junior Tyrell Dixon (Tacoma, Wash./Mount Tahoma HS) came off the bench to chip in seven as Evergreen shot 41.7% in the opening frame. PLU was led by a period-high 14 points from Curtis Trondsen, who played 11 minutes off the bench for the Lutes.
The hot-shooting Lutes continued their offensive flow into the second half and the already-shorthanded Geoducks found themselves in foul trouble as PLU slowly built up the comfortable lead. Despite the point disparity, Evergreen continued to play hard, earning trips to the free throw stripe and hitting the glass hard before falling 86-69.
Evergreen was led by 17 points from freshman Mikey Hope (Tacoma, Wash./Wilson HS). Troyer added six more in the second half to finish with 14 on the night, adding eight rebounds and a pair of assists. Dixon finished with 13 to lead the Evergreen bench. As a team, the Geoducks outrebounded the Lutes, 31-25.
Pacific Lutheran was led by 16 off the bench from Trondsen. Andrew Earnest added 14 and Kai Hoyt scored 10 as the Lutes shot 62.3% from the field, including 72.0% in the second half.
Evergreen resumes Cascade Collegiate Conference play on Thursday evening when they play host to 11th-ranked Northwest University. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at the CRC Gymnasium in Olympia.
GAME NOTES: Evergreen senior Josh Troyer was named Red Lion Men’s CCC Basketball Player of the Week for the second straight week on Monday…Evergreen still holds an 8-3 record all-time against Pacific Lutheran…Troyer scored double-digit points for the sixth straight game, including all five games at home.
Game Stats
Upcoming Games
- December 30 – Thur vs. Northwest University (Home) 5:30pm
- January 7 – Fri @ Southern Oregon University 5:30pm
- January 8 – Sat @ Oregon Tech 5:30pm
