TACOMA, Wash. - One day fresh off clinching the 2008-09 Northwest Conference title, the sixth-ranked Puget Sound Loggers held off the Whitman Missionaries, 82-72, in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game on Saturday night at Memorial Fieldhouse in Tacoma, Wash.

In the first half, the Missionaries seemed to have the Loggers number as they took an initial lead on a three-pointer by Chris Faidley just 21 seconds into the game and didn't look back, pulling ahead by 10 points at the 12:22 mark on another three-pointer from Faidley.

The Loggers battled back into the game, pulling back within two points on a lay-up by Austin Boyce (Kent, Wash./Kentwood) with 7:03 left to go in the first half. The Loggers got the deficit down to one point on a pair of free throws by Antwan Williams (Portland, Ore./Madison) following a technical foul on Whitman's Steve Campbell. Another Whitman three-pointer and a lay-up by Jason Foster (Spanaway, Wash./Henry Foss) put the score at 38-36 in favor of Whitman heading into halftime.

In the second half, the Loggers moved from their traditional full-court pressure defense to a more traditional half-court offense and the change worked as the Loggers tied the game at 40-40 on a jumper by Nadav Heyman (Corvallis, Ore.) and then took their first lead of the game less than a minute later on the three-pointer from Williams.

The Loggers continued to pull away, taking a 10-point lead with 14:30 remaining on a three-ball by Robert Krauel (Phoenix, Ariz./North Canyon). The Missionaries finally figured out how to match the Loggers but they weren't able to complete the comeback as the Loggers held on for the 81-71 win.

The Loggers were led by 14 points from Krauel and 13 from Williams. Bryce Levin (Everett, Wash.) came off the bench to add 12 points, all on three-pointers. Foster finished the game with eight points, 11 rebounds and four blocks on the night.

Whitman was led by 25 points from Faidley. Jordan Wheeler finished with 15 points and Brandon Shaw with 10 points. David Michaels added 13 boards for the Missionaries.

The Loggers hit the road next week, traveling to Pacific and Willamette to conclude the 2008-09 regular season. The Loggers have already clinched the top seed in the NWC Tournament and will host the fourth seed on Feb. 26.

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