LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Linfield men's basketball team took a one-point lead into halftime, but Eastern Oregon caught fire in the second half to win 82-64, snapping the Wildcats' four-game winning streak Tuesday night at Quinn Coliseum.
 
The Wildcats were up 37-36 going into the break, but the Mountaineers outscored them 46-27 in the second half. The Mountaineers scored 20 fast break points and 21 points off 12 Linfield turnovers. They shot 40.63 percent in the first half before stepping on the gas in the second half, making 52.94 percent from the field, including 7 of 13 from three-point range.
 
Zane Wright and Phillip Malatare carried most of the load offensively for EOU. Wright dropped a game-high 25 points to go with three rebounds, connecting on 9 of 16 from the field and 7 of 11 from beyond the arc. Malatare was right behind Wright, scoring 24 points to go with six assists, five rebounds, four steals and a pair of blocks. He went 10 for 20 from the field. Xavier Lovelace just missed a double-double with nine points and 13 rebounds.
 
After a solid first half that saw Linfield shoot 45.16 percent from the field, 46.15 percent from deep and a perfect 3 of 3 from the free throw line, the Wildcats made just 27.27 percent of their shots in the second half. They made 2 of 15 shots from long range. The Mountaineers outrebounded the 'Cats 44-34.

"We hit a big wall tonight with about five minutes left. The kids really gave it all they had and played well against a very good Eastern Oregon team until we went ice cold in the last five minutes," said head coach Shanan Rosenberg.
 
Carson Bonine was the only Linfield player to score in double figures. The junior guard finished with 15 points, four rebounds, an assist and a steal. He connected on 5 of 10 from the field, 3 of 5 from three-point range and 2 of 2 from the charity stripe.

"Carson Bonine had a great night for us, and I'm proud of the opportunities we created for ourself, but ultimately they made more of theirs than we did," said Rosenberg.

Senior forward Aaron Baune totaled nine points, four rebounds and an assist while senior guard Max Lommen and junior forward Alex Jaczko had eight points apiece.

"This was a good tune-up for us on this east side trip," said Rosenberg of the 'Cats back-to-back slate. "It was good for our young guys to grow and experience the challenges of a trip like this against a very physical team."
 
NEXT
The 'Cats (6-3, 2-0 NWC) will return home to host NAIA Warner Pacific on Dec. 28. They will close their non-conference slate on Dec. 30, hosting Wisconsin-Stevens Point, a member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.