McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Linfield fell short in a close contest against Lewis & Clark, losing 63-61 on Friday night at Ted Wilson Gymnasium. The Wildcats battled hard and rallied in the second half but were unable to capture the lead.
The first half was marked by an early 3-pointer from Taien Jackson, which set the tone for Lewis & Clark's lead. The Pioneers shot 48.1% from the field in the first half, helping them lead by as many as 18 and take a 36-24 advantage heading into the break. Linfield struggled with their shooting, particularly from long range, finishing the half just 1-9 from beyond the arc. However, their free-throw shooting kept them in the game, hitting 9-of-11 attempts.
In the second half, the Wildcats came out more aggressive, tightening their defensive efforts and shooting the ball much more efficiently at 50% in the final half. The home team overcame the halftime deficit and tied the game after two free throws by
Chase Bennett, but ultimately couldn't pull ahead. Linfield found success in the paint, scoring 26 of their 61 points inside.
Cade Collins directed the Linfield offense, putting up 24 points and six rebounds while
Josh Ryan poured in eight more points and three steals.
Jake Downing, who contributed seven points, including a crucial 3-pointer late in the game, added valuable minutes off the bench. Although the Wildcats shot better in the second half, their struggles in the first half allowed Lewis & Clark to hold on. The Pioneers capitalized on Linfield's turnovers, scoring 17 points off the Wildcats' giveaways.
The loss dropped Linfield to 5-9 on the season and 2-3 in Northwest Conference play, while Lewis & Clark improved to 7-7, 3-2 in the NWC.
NEXT
Linfield doesn't have time to dwell on the loss as they welcome Willamette to Ted Wilson Gymnasium Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. in another NWC clash.