PARKLAND, Wash. – The Evergreen Geoducks put up 15 points in overtime to pull past the Pacific Lutheran Lutes in overtime, 79-72, in a non-conference men’s basketball game on Saturday afternoon at the PLU Thanksgiving Classic at Olson Auditorium in Parkland, Wash.
The Lutes (2-2) held the early lead as they opened strong to pull ahead, 25-15, with 9:35 in the opening period. The Geoducks (1-6) quickly filled the hole, using a 14-5 run to pull within one point with 4:07 left to play in the first half. Evergreen took their first lead of the game with just 16 seconds left to go in the period, using a lay-up by Julian Holliday (Tacoma, Wash./Yakima Valley CC) to take a 35-34 lead into the break.
Evergreen remained in control for most of the second half, pulling ahead by as many as five on several occasions. PLU climbed back into the lead, resuming the advantage with 5:11 left but the Lutes were never able to pull ahead by more than two, allowing senior Marice Tolliver (Tacoma, Wash./Lower Columbia College) to tie the game up with 1:24 left. After a pair of misses at both ends of the court, a late foul gave Evergreen a chance to win the game with three seconds left to play but Patrick Lewis (Bremerton, Wash./Olympic College) was unable to convert on a pair of free throws, forcing overtime.
In the extra period, Lewis gave the Geoducks the lead with a free throw just 11 seconds in. The Lutes took a one-point lead on the next possession but a three-pointer by Travis Wagner (Federal Way, Wash./Green River CC) put Evergreen back up by two. The game was tied for the final time with 2:08 left to play as the Geoducks found enough juice to finish the game on a 9-2 run to pick up their first win of the year, 79-72.
Evergreen was led by 22 points by Tolliver, who also added seven rebounds, four assists and three steals in the win. Lewis finished with 16 points and nine rebounds on the afternoon while senior Tyrell Stephens (Tacoma, Wash./Mount Tahoma HS) chipped in 12 points in the win. The Geoducks forced 24 PLU turnovers on the afternoon, picking up 18 steals, the most since Evergreen had 22 against Western Baptist on Jan. 5, 2002.
Pacific Lutheran was led by the trio of Andrew Earnest, James Conti and Kai Hoyt, who combined for all by nine Lute points on the afternoon. Earnest finished with 25 while Conti chipped in 23. Hoyt put up 15 points to go with a team-high nine rebounds as the Lutes fell to 2-2 on the years. After shooting 41.4% in the first half and 40.9% in the second half, PLU converted on just 27.3% of their shots in overtime, making just three of 11 attempts.
Evergreen will next be in action on Monday evening when they travel to the ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash. to take on NCAA Division I Seattle University in a non-conference battle. Tip with the Redhawks is set for 7:00 pm.
