PORTLAND, Ore. - Junior Jason Luhnow knocked down a game-high 24 points in the Lewis & Clark men's basketball teams 59-54 Northwest Conference win over Pacific on Saturday night in the Pamplin Sports Center. 

The game was a must win for the Pioneers, who are now in sole possession of third place in the Northwest Conference. The Pios are 12-9 on the season and 7-5 in conference play. The team sits three games out of second place and just one game ahead of Pacific and Willamette. The Boxers are now 11-10 overall and 6-6 in the NWC. 

Luhnow scored 18 of his 24 from behind the three-point arc. The junior guard also pulled down seven rebounds for the Pioneers, while picking up an assist and a steal. Carl Appleton finished one point and one rebound away from a double-double, scoring nine points and collecting nine boards. Cory Coombe netted eight points, while both Serg Ovchinnikov and Cannen Roberson scored six. 

Mitch Wettig led the Boxers with 20 points, while Bobby Ahern also finished in double-figures with 10 points. 

Appleton put the Pioneers ahead early in the contest with a jumper just 20 second in. It would take nearly three minutes for the Boxers to respond, tying the game at 2-2 with back-to-back Ahern free-throws. The Boxers would hit the next to baskets to take a 6-2 advantage with 14:10 left until halftime. Lewis & Clark responded with a 5-0 run to take the lead back. Both sides exchanged baskets over the remainder of the half with the Pios taking a slim 32-30 lead into the locker room.

The Pioneers opened the second half on a 5-0 run to take a 37-30 lead with 18:16 left in the contest. The two teams would trade baskets throughout the rest of the contest, with neither side earning more than a six-point lead. Lewis & Clark earned the lead back for good on a Luhnow layup with 12:23 left. 

The Pioneers travel to Willamette midweek to take on the Bearcats on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 8 p.m.