TACOMA, Wash. – Nearly five players finished in double figures for Pacific Lutheran as the Lutes topped the Wildcats 75-64 in Olson Gymnasium on Saturday evening.
Joshua Ryan tied a game-high with 14 points while also finishing with a game-high seven rebounds.
Cade Collins eclipsed double-digit points (13) for the first time since December.
Chase Bennett and
Jack Greenwood added nine points each. Linfield shot 38 percent on 67 attempts and knocked down 10-29 from behind the arc.
Sam Noland paced the Lutes with 15 points with teammates Miles Nash and Jackson Reisner finished with 14 each. Pacific Lutheran (11-8, 4-6 NWC) shot 44 percent on 58 shot attempts and converted 8-24 shots from three. The Lutes bench outscored the Wildcats 32-21.
Collins led all scorers with eight points, but Pacific Lutheran held a 32-27 lead after a tightly contested first half. The Wildcats made five threes in the first half however the Lutes outshot the 'Cats from the field 44 percent to 35.
Linfield grabbed its first lead four and a half minutes into the second half. The Lutes then responded by slowly pulling back in front and eventually grabbing a double-digit lead with under four minutes remaining. The Wildcats came within six in the final minute but couldn't inch any closer as the Lutes closed out the game at the free-throw line.
COMING UP
The 'Cats (6-13, 1-9 NWC) return to Tacoma on Friday when they travel to face Puget Sound at 8 p.m.