Keeping it even with 7-7 Men’s basketball sits at fifth place in the NWC with a 7-7 NWC record and 12-11 overall.

PHOTO BY MAGGIE MCDERMUT

BY JODI SNIDER Staff Writer

Thursday Night in Salem, Ore., the LC Pioneers took on the Willamette Bearcats. The Bearcats came out strong, taking the lead early in the first half. With 6:06 remain- ing on the clock, the Pioneers were down by 13 points, 18-31. With 1:44 left in play time, LC ramped up their intensity as Donato Perconti got a lay in followed by a steal, making the score 28-38. Continuing this strong effort, Caron Rayford scored back-to- back layups, bringing the Pioneers within 6 points of the Bearcats at 32-38. The Pioneers gave up one last bucket in the half; the final score at half time was 32-40.

Marcus Wells started off the second half grabbing two back-to-back boards and a layup, putting the score at 34-40. It was a constant struggle for the Pioneers to catch up the entire second half. Slowly, the Pioneers clawed their way back up and at 8:39 left in the game, Ross Erickson scored a layup to bring the Pioneers within a point of the Bearcats, 59-60. From here the Bearcats went on a 12-2 run. Even with a commend- able effort from Erickson, scoring 16 of his 22 points in the second half, the Pioneers couldn’t chase the bearcats down.

The final score was 70-79, leaving the Pioneers at 6-7 in conference and 11-11 overall. High scorers were Ross Erickson with 22 points, Marcus Wells with 14 points and Scott Pisapia with 10. Both Wells and Donato Perconti had a team high 6 boards.

Saturday night at home, the Pioneers played the Pacific Lutheran Lutes. The Pioneers started the game slow as the Lutes went on a 10-3 run. PJ Taylor scored three con- secutive three-pointers to get the Pioneers within 4 points of the Lutes, 12-16. With another three-pointer, this time by Donato Perconti, the Pioneers came within a point of the Lutes with only 8:15 left in the first half, bringing the score to 19-20. The lutes continued to keep their lead throughout the first half; the half time score was 28-27.

To start off the second half, a lay-in and free throw by PJ Taylor tied the game up at 30-30. The Pioneers took the lead with 13:25 remaining on the clock with a three- pointer by Marcus Wells, bringing the score to 35-32. With 10:23 left in game time, Ross Erickson threw a beautiful dunk to further extend the Pioneers’ lead to 41-35. The Lutes could not answer back, and with about two minutes remaining, the score was at its larg- est difference of eleven points, 61-50. The Pioneers won, 63-53, to take home their sev- enth NWC win.
High scorers were PJ Taylor with 16 points, Marcus Wells with 11 points and Ross Erickson with 10 points. Erickson also grabbed a team-high of 14 boards and 5 as- sists. Wells was an impressive 5-6 from the floor, an 85% shooting percentage.

The men play again Feb. 17 and 18. Come out to support Seniors PJ Taylor, Do- nato Perconti and Marcus Wells on Friday against the University of Puget Sound Loggers, as it will be their last home game. Saturday night, the games will be away at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore.