McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield built a 23-point lead in the second half, but the Wildcats needed their best game of the season to hold off a desperate comeback attempt by visiting Whitworth, 86-79 on Saturday night at Ted Wilson Gym.
Linfield shot well above 50% from the field and three-point range for most of the game and improved to 6-10 overall and 3-5 in the Northwest Conference. The Pirates fell to 11-6, 6-2 and dropped out of a tie for first place in the men's basketball standings at the halfway point of the conference schedule.
Nearly everything that could go right did go right for Linfield in the opening half. After falling behind 7-2, the Pirates rallied to take their only lead at 8-7 on Rowan Anderson's second early three-pointer. Linfield answered with an 8-0 run to go up 15-8 on Carson Bonine's three-pointer. The Bucs got back within 17-15 on Anderson's layup, but the Wildcats used a 12-2 run to open a 29-17 advantage after Josh Puccinelli's layup with eight minutes left. TreyVaughnn Bierlink's steal and breakaway layup made it 40-25 and Trey Bryant followed with a three-pointer for Linfield's largest lead of the first half (43-25). Whitworth trailed 46-30 at the break. The Wildcats made 59% of their shots, including 5 of 8 (62.5%) from three-point range. Whitworth was solid from the field (47%) and three-point range (40%), thanks mostly to Anderson who made 6 of 10 from the floor and 4 of 6 from beyond the arc and scored 16 first half points. But the Pirates were only 4 of 8 at the free throw line and turned the ball over seven times while Linfield only turned it over twice.
The Wildcats opened the second half by making their first three three-pointers and took a 57-37 lead on Reece Gibb's trey just over three minutes into the period. When Cayden Lowenbach scored on a fast break, Linfield led 63-40 with 15:06 left. Michael Smith began Whitworth's second half surge with a three-pointer and got the Pirates back within 74-65 with three free throws with just under five minutes to go. Whitworth got back within 78-71 on JT McDermott's layup with 3:19 to left, but Mikey Hinkle answered with a three-pointer to give the Wildcats some necessary breathing room. Anderson drove for a layup to get the Bucs within 81-75 and Smith followed with a three to make it 81-78 with 38 seconds to go. Bryant answered with a three for Linfield with 18 seconds left. Menard made one of three free throws on Whitworth's next possession and Bonine made two at the other end to clinch the win for Linfield.
Anderson and Smith scored 20 points apiece for the Pirates. Smith scored 18 of his points in the second half to lead the comeback attempt. Menard came off the bench for 12 points. Whitworth finished the game 27 of 55 (49%) from the field and 8 of 22 (36.4%) from three-point range. The Pirates got to the free throw line 25 times and made 17 (68%).
Bonine led the Wildcats with 14 points, while Alex Jaczko scored 13 and Bryant came off the bench for 10. Linfield finished the game 33 of 67 (49%) from the floor and 11 of 23 (48%) from beyond the arc.
Linfield has won its last three games at home vs. the Pirates.
Whitworth will open the second round of the NWC schedule at home against PLU and Puget Sound next weekend.
