TACOMA, Wash. - A 10 day break and a week full of finals didn't seem to bother the Puget Sound Loggers as they put up a fight with the NAIA ninth-ranked Warner Pacific Knights before falling, 96-88, in a non-conference men's basketball on Saturday night at Memorial Fieldhouse in Tacoma, Wash.

In the first half, the Knights (10-3) took the early lead but the Loggers (3-5) stayed tough.  The Loggers used an effective high-pressure defense to force 18 first-half turnovers by the Knights as the two teams headed into the break tied at 42 points each. 

In the second half, the teams continued to trade baskets as neither team was able to build up a sizeable lead.  The Knights eventually started to wear down the Loggers around the midpoint of the half, using a 10-3 run to go up by 10 points, 76-66, with 7:45 left to play.  Puget Sound got back within four points with 4:29 left to play.  That was as close as the Loggers would get though as Warner Pacific picked up the 96-88 win.

The Loggers were led in scoring by 21 points from sophomore Nadav Heyman (Corvallis, Ore.), who also added two steals and two blocks in the loss.  Austin Boyce (Kent, Wash./Kentwood) finished with 20 points and seven rebounds while Colin Koach (Portland, Ore./Franklin) chipped in 18 points.  Kaleb Shelton (Tacoma, Wash./Lincoln) chipped in 16 points to go with a team-high nine rebounds.

Warner Pacific was led by 21 points from Jake Glisson, who also had nine rebounds.  Marcel Smith added 19 points while Kaylone Riley collected a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, also adding four blocks for the Knights.

The Loggers will be back in action on Dec. 29 when they head down to Portland to take on Portland Bible.