TACOMA, Wash.  It ended with a clang, a conference winning streak intact, the court un-mobbed by an upset-minded crowd, and the top-ranked Division III team in the country still undefeated.

And yes, a clang. An apt clang.

Whitman survived some uncharacteristic ball-security issues, its own free throw misadventures and an unholy barrage of 3-pointers by its hosts to beat the University of Puget Sound 111-108 in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game at Memorial Fieldhouse on Saturday, the win in doubt until the Loggers' Nate Vieira drew iron on a running 3-pointer from 30 feet at the buzzer.

The Blues' foibles were ultimately footnoted by a poised final minute that made what came before, so atypical, seem like a mirage.

"There were so many reasons that we could've come up short tonight," Whitman head coach Eric Bridgeland said, "and our guys refused to."

After surrendering the lead on Jimmy Wohrer's driving basket up the spine of the key with 58 seconds left, the Blues' Tim Howell, who was at vintage howl for the duration, hit two free throws to tie it 108-all. Austin Butler blocked a

Wohrer shot attempt and first-year Darne Duckett was fouled. He made both free throws. Then Wohrer, covered like a drenched poncho by Butler, whiffed on a 3-pointer. UPS recovered the airball and missed again. Jack Stewart rebounded, was fouled, and split free throws with 2.7 seconds left.

Vieira caught the ensuing inbounds pass near midcourt, dribbled the sideline, and clanged the would-be tying look.

"We're in those situations in practice all the time. Our practices are so competitive," said Bridgeland. "Our guys continue to fight. They expect to be successful. They keep fighting and hope to make enough plays to get it done."

Whitman's season-high 23 turnovers, 56 percent free throw shooting and 17 3-pointers allowed -- including 10 on 23 attempts in the second half -- weren't fantastic. Nor were they fatal. The Blues, familiar with high-stakes, minimal-clearance scenarios coming off a run to the national semifinals last spring, made enough plays late to complete a 2-0 Tacoma swing.

Howell had a season-high 26 points on 12-of-17 shooting. He was 5 of 6 in the second half and made the tying free throws, impervious to a roaring crowd.

Butler had 12 of his 16 points, two of his three blocks and all three of his assists after halftime. He scored three of Whitman's final seven baskets and found Ben Beatie (15 points, nine rebounds) for a go-ahead 3-pointer at the 3:54 mark, in addition to locking up Wohrer, the conference's leading scorer, in crunch time.

The Blues (5-0, 2-0 in NWC) were 8 for their final 10 at the line and did not commit a turnover in the final 2:22.

Whitman was down six, 84-78, with 10:35 to play. During a sequence when Whitman turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions, the Loggers took a 104-103 lead with 2:49 to go.

Duckett missed a free throw after making one to tie it. Robert Colton scrapped to rebound and forced a jump ball with the possession arrow favoring the visitors, and eventually scored to give the Blues a 106-104 lead just inside the two-minute mark. But Vieira answered to tie it with 1:32 remaining, and Wohrer's driving basket after Whitman missed a layin gave the Loggers their final lead.

"We took so many hits," said Bridgeland. "Our guys came out on top, on the road."

Joey Hewitt had 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. Duckett had 13 points and two steals off the bench. Colton, still hobbled after a hard fall against PLU on Friday, had nine points and 13 rebounds. Osborne, who left Friday's game with an injury and got whacked in the nose on Saturday, added 10 points, four rebounds and two steals.

"Trevor and Rob were both beat up from last night and both gave us amazing performances," Bridgeland said. "Ben (Beatie) was ridiculously good. He has never been better in a Whitman uniform.

"We withstood 17 threes. We had foul trouble. We found a way to get it done."

The final moments before halftime crystalized all of Whitman's first-half difficulties and erased all of what had been a 47-39 Blues lead. Aside from Howell's floater and a free throw by Jaron Kirkley, Whitman dried up offensively over the last 2:30, which saw the Loggers close the half on a 12-3 run to take a 51-50 lead into halftime. Wohrer's 3-pointer with eight seconds left gave the hosts their first lead since the 15-minute mark.

It left the Blues trailing at halftime for the first time this season.

Whitman got Howell (14 points on 7-of-11 shooting) and Hewitt (nine points, 4 of 7) going, but struggled beyond. It made just 5 of 13 free throws, surrendered 12 second-chance points and had 10 turnovers. The Blues also scuffled mightily from outside, making just 3 of 11 3-pointers.

Some of those issues lingered deep into the second half, but were overcome.

Whitman, which has won 26 consecutive regular-season games in the NWC, plays its next six games out of conference. The Blues host Colorado College at 8 p.m. on Dec. 8 in their final home game of 2017.