BOX SCORE

TACOMA, Wash. - Senior Connor Freeberg led the Lewis & Clark men's basketball team with 15 points at the Pioneers fell to the Puget Sound Loggers 85-72 in the teams Northwest Conference opener.

The loss drops the Pioneers to 7-3 overall and 0-1 in NWC play. The Loggers improve to 5-5 on the season and 1-0 in conference action.

The Pioneers put together a solid first half of play, including Freeberg who scored 11 of his 15 points in the opening period. Freshman Randall Jackson, who scored 14 points in the game, knocked down nine of his points in the first half. Lewis & Clark hit 13-of-17 of its free-throws in the first half, while draining four of its seven three point attempts.

Like Freeberg and Jackson, Kurt Parker also ended the game in double figures with 12 points, finishing 6-of-7 from the charity stripe. Justin Leathers led the Pioneers with seven rebounds, while Jason Luhnow pulled down six. Luhnow also ended the contest with a team-high three steals and one block.

Nick Holden led all players with 22 points, while James Osorio scored 14 points in the Logger victory. Rex Nelson and Erin Barber each scored 12 points for Puget Sound.

The two sides traded possession of the lead nine times throughout the contest, while knotting up the game six times. Lewis & Clark held its largest lead of the contest with 16:25 remaining until halftime after Bradley Carter drained a free-throw that capped off a 12-2 start for the Pios.

Puget Sound tied the game for the first time at 16 all with 13:02 to go until the half. The two sides battled back and forth over the remaining minutes with neither side collecting a significant lead. Free-throws made the difference for L&C in the final minute of action, helping send them into the half ahead 45-40.

The opening six minutes of the second half was a fight with the two sides trading baskets. With the game tied at 52-52, Nelson hit a jumper that put the Loggers ahead for good. The Pioneers nearly fought their way back on top a couple times throughout the period but were never able to get over the hill, eventually falling 85-72.

Lewis & Clark returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 4 for an 8 p.m. tip-off at Pacific Lutheran.