FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Three Wildcats scored in double figures, but the Linfield men fell 67-57 to the Pacific Boxers to drop to 1-1 in Northwest Conference play Saturday night at the Stoller Center.
The Wildcats got off to a hot start, shooting 41.38 percent in the first half while holding the Boxers to just over 29 percent to go into halftime up 36-28. But the tides turned after the break as the Boxers piled up a 39-21 advantage in the second half.
"We had some good stretches and moments tonight, but we really beat ourselves for much of that second half," head coach
Shanan Rosenberg said. "Rebounds and turnovers costed us dearly."
Trey Bryant scored in double digits for the fifth straight game, logging 39 minutes for Linfield. The sophomore point guard dropped 16 points and tacked on five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Jackson Dupree went 5 for 7 from the field to finish just behind Bryant with a season-high 15 points. He added two steals and matched Bryant's team-high five rebounds.
Carson Bonine made two of the team's five three-pointers on his way to scoring 13 points.
"We had moments where we defended well, and that kept us in the game and built a double-digit lead at one point," Rosenberg said.
Pacific forgot about its offensive struggles in the first half to shoot 45.83 percent in the second half. The Boxers won the battle in the paint, outscoring Linfield 26-18. They also scored 16 points off 17 Wildcat turnovers.
Jared Cattell sunk three of the Boxers' four buckets from outside to lead the home team with 17 points while tallying three rebounds, a block and two steals. Jacob Bolger scored 11 points and pulled down six rebounds while the trio of Lucas Winkler, Ethan Chung and Isaiah Africano all had nine points. Winkler came down with a game-high 11 rebounds.
"Our lack of execution and adherence to the game plan stood out in the second half. I give credit to Pacific for playing hard."
NEXT
Linfield's three-game win streak was snapped in the loss. The 'Cats (3-3, 1-1 NWC) will enter a five-game non-conference stretch. They play at Warner Pacific at 5 p.m. Thursday before hosting Walla Walla at 7 p.m. Saturday.