Linfield University Athletics

McMINNVILLE, Ore. – A balanced scoring effort  propelled Linfield College to a runaway 105-75 victory over The Evergreen State College in the Wildcats' season opener Sunday afternoon on the Ted Wilson Gym hardwood.
 
Riley Bruil hit four threes on his way to 16 points. Will Burghardt, making his first start since transferring from Hawaii-Hilo, also scored 16 points as did Dempsey Roggenbuck. Liam O'Reilly turned in a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Point guard Eric Daul scored eight points while adding five assists and a couple of steals.
 
"Our three seniors, Riley, Eric and Liam, set the tone for our team and played very hard, spirited and on-point," said Wildcats coach Shanan Rosenberg afterward. "Our second-half energy was contagious and led to efficient opportunities on offense. Anytime you have a 2-1 assist-to-turnover ratio or better, good things tend to happen."
 
1st half
The visiting Geoducks led a two-point lead after seven minutes of play before the Wildcats launched an 8-0 run to take control. A three by Eric Daul pumped Linfield's cushion to 10 points, 28-18, with just over seven minutes left in the half. O'Reilly followed less than a minute later with a three of his own and the 'Cats were cruising at that point. When Grant Gibb sank a jumper in the paint at the 4:27 mark, Linfield led by 15, 39-24. But the Geoducks outscored the 'Cats 13-7 to end the half, closing the gap to nine, 46-37.
 
Burghardt scored 10 points, including a pair of three-point buckets, and Roggenbuck added six points. the Wildcats forced 11 Evergreen turnovers during the first period, enabling Linfield to sustain a nine-point advantage by intermission. The Geoducks turned the ball over 19 times over the game's 40 minutes.
 
2nd half
The teams traded baskets to open the half before Linfield scored the next 11 points to go on top by 20, 59-39, with 15:47 to play. The lead eventually grew to 33 points, 81-48, midway through the half.
 
'Cat stats
Roggenbuck made 5 of 10 shots to finish with 16 points in a starting role. O'Reilly went 5 for 6 from the field on his way to 12 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals. Local favorite Tanner Autencio contributed eight points, three rebounds and one steal in 18 minutes off the bench.
 
Linfield shot 50.7 percent from the field compared to Evergreen's 38.9. The Wildcats were nearly as sharp from three-point range, making 48.6 percent from outside the arc.
 
Evergreen numbers
Ryan Quigley pumped in a game-high 18 points, making 7 of 12 shots. Malik Redmond, Elijah Fuller and Brandon Kohler all added 10 points. Jared Roffler grabbed a team-best 11 rebounds. The Geoducks held a slight edge on the backboards, 45-42.
 
Rosenberg's take
"Will Burghardt and Tanner Autencio were excellent for us off the bench and played big roles in giving our team a lift," said the coach. "We need to compete better on the glass. I thought that was an area we need to improve on, but the guys know that and will expect more of themselves moving forward. 
 
"I give Evergreen a lot of credit for fighting back in the first half. I thought they outhustled us for a good stretch and made the game very competitive."
 
Next
Linfield hosts La Verne in a Tuesday matinee starting at 3 p.m.