PORTLAND, Ore. -- Kyle Owens' 3-pointer with 10:01 remaining gave the Lewis & Clark Pioneers their first lead in Saturday night's game against Pacific Lutheran, but the Pios weren't able to sustain it, losing 66-65 to the visiting Lutes at Pamplin Sports Center.

Alex Jones made a 3-pointer two possessions after Owens' three, but in both cases, PLU answered with a score on the very next possession to regain the advantage.

Brandon Lester led Pacific Lutheran with a season-high 28 points, while Lewis & Clark's second-leading scorer, Jason Luhnow, had just his third 20 percent or lower shooting night this season, making 3 of 15. Cannen Roberson had a team-high 12 points to lead Lewis & Clark, followed by 11 points from Jonathan Boddie.

After a basket by Cory Coombe brought the Pios within 64-60, Roberson put in a 3-pointer with less than a minute to make it a one-point game. On the ensuing possession, Bryce Miller missed a layup for PLU, but Jared Christy grabbed the rebound before Lester missed the next shot. Lewis & Clark touched it last, so PLU retained the ball with under 12 seconds left, forcing the Pios to foul. Lester made two free throws to boost the Lutes lead to 66-63 before Markel Leonard ended the game with a layup for the Pios, making the one-point final score.

With the loss, Lewis & Clark (9-13; 5-9 Northwest Conference) is eliminated from a possible Northwest Conference tournament bid, the first time the Pios have failed to qualify in the league's top four under fifth-year head coach Dinari Foreman. Pacific Lutheran (16-7; 9-5 NWC) clinched a spot in the top four with the win.

Lewis & Clark was held without points for nearly the first four minutes of the game, shooting 0 for 4 while PLU built a 7-0 lead. Boddie (pictured right) hammered in an alley oop dunk, his second in as many games, and was fouled after a pass from half court by Coombe, closing out a 6-0 run to get the Pios within one.

Trailing 21-14 with 8:04 left until halftime, Owens, Coombe and Roberson combined to score 10 of the game's next 15 points, and Lewis & Clark closed to within two, 26-24. Three different times in the final 3:22 of the half, the Pios trimmed PLU's lead back to three or less, but never took the lead, trailing 36-30 at halftime. Twice, Luhnow missed 3-pointers to take the lead.

To open the second half, Luhnow nailed his first shot from beyond the arc, bringing the Pios back to within a single possession. The game remained close before the Pioneers took the 54-52 lead with 8:58 remaining.

The Pioneers wrap up the road schedule on Friday at Pacific before hosting Senior Night on Feb. 20 against Pacific.

Other Northwest Conference Scores - Saturday

Whitworth 72, Willamette 53
Pacific 65, Puget Sound 63
Whitman 97, George Fox 72