McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Equaling the program's best start after five games, the Linfield Wildcats raced past Portland Bible 79-66 Monday night inside Ted Wilson Gymnasium.
 
Center Jordan Clark powered his way for 18 points and six rebounds, Riley Bruil and Dempsey Roggenbuck added 13 points each, and Tyler Watts pulled down a team-best eight rebounds to lead a solid all-around effort by the Wildcats.
 
"Jordan was a beast out there and really set a tone in the paint," said Wildcats coach Shanan Rosenberg. "We had some bright spots and moments, and our final percentages look pretty good, but we have to get better with ball security and closing out defensive plays."
 
Watts added three assists and three steals while Bruil accounted for three steals, a pair of three-pointers, plus one assist.  
 
How it played out
Linfield jumped on Portland Bible from the opening tip, scoring the game's first 15 points over the course of the opening 5:15. The Wildcats led by 11 points, 25-14, at the midway point of the period and held a 37-27 advantage at the break.
 
PBC twice the margin to eight points in the second half, 56-48 and 58-50, but the visitors from Northeast Portland could pull no closer.
 
The Wildcats owned a considerable advantage at the free throw line, hitting 25 of 31 attempts, compared to Portland Bible's 10 conversions on 13 attempts.
 
While building its lead, Linfield forced 14 first-half turnovers, but Portland Bible limited their miscues after halftime, giving up the ball just five more times.
 
Portland Bible by the numbers
Keoni Peneueta and Cameron Jensen both scored 15 points and gathered three rebounds to pace Portland Bible. Aaron Deatherage and William Bratcher added 10 each.
 
What it means
Linfield moved to 5-0 to start the season for the first time since 1992-93. Two other Wildcats squads –1964-65 and 1975-76 – matched that feat with spotless records after five games.
 
Portland Bible, a member of the National Christian Collegiate Athletics Association Pacific Christian Athletic Conference, slipped to 1-7 for the season.

Rosenberg's Remarks 
"Portland Bible played very hard and very well together. They never quit and made it tough on us for sure."
 
As for the Wildcats' performance, he said "This team has a chance to be a great team, but we have a ways to go."
 
Next
Linfield opens Northwest Conference play Friday night with a home matchup against the George Fox Bruins. Game time is set for 8 p.m. following the women's 6 o'clock matchup.