The REPORTER
University held a two-point halftime lead Thursday night at Lutheran, but the Saints outscored the Trailblazers 16-7 in the third quarter and went on to post a 54-46 win.
Lutheran’s LJ Ward scored 20 of his 29 points in the second half and keyed an 11-0 third quarter run that saw the Saints take control of the game.
University never trailed in the first half, leading by as many eight points early in the second quarter but were held without a field goal for more than eight minutes in the second half as Lutheran built their lead.
Blake Gary and Bryce Gray scored 12 points each to lead University.
The Trailblazers led 10-6 after the first quarter with Montgomery Holland scoring five points. A pair of three pointers by Blake Gray put University ahead 16-8 with 6:30 left in the second quarter. After Lutheran pulled within 16-14, Blake Gray made another three pointer and Zien Bland made two free throws to put the Blazers up 21-14 with 2:31 left in the half. Ward made a three pointer and pulled Lutheran within 21-19 at halftime with another field goal.
Ward pulled Lutheran even at 22 before Bryce Gray gave University a 24-22 lead. Cayden Loescher knotted the game at 24 before Max McComb split a pair of foul shots to give University their last lead at 25-24. Ward then drilled a pair of three pointers to put Lutheran up 30-25 and start their 11-0 run. The Saints led 35-28 after three quarters. Ward scored the first five points of the fourth quarter and the Blazes got no closer than eight the rest of the game.
University falls to 10-8 on the season while Lutheran improved to 11-6.
The Blazers are back in action tonight at Bethesda Christian in the Pioneer Academic Athletic Conference championship. University will be trying to win its seventh consecutive PAAC championship. Bethesda Christian beat University 52-40 in the first game of the season.
LUTHERAN 54, UNIVERSITY 46
University FG FT TP PF
Bryce Gray 4-10 2-2 12 2
Blake Gray 4-10 0-0 12 2
Max McComb 1-5 4-6 6 4
Robert Russell 1-4 2-4 4 4
Montgomery Holland 2-6 2-4 6 1
Jackson Bledsoe 1-2 0-0 2 2
Zien Bland 0-1 4-4 4 1
Cooper Cammack 0-2 0-2 0 3
Totals 13-40 14-22 46 19
Score by Quarters
University 10 11 7 18 -46
Lutheran 6 13 16 19 – 54
University 3-point shooting (6-17) Bl. Gray 4-6, Br. Gray 2-6, McComb 0-3, Bland 0-1, Holland 0-1.
University rebounds (24) Holland 6, Russell 5, Bledsoe 3, Bland 3, Cammack 3, Br. Gray 2, McComb 2.