Box Score EUGENE, Ore. --- Linfield men's basketball (0-1) fell to the Bushnell Beacons in the season opener on Saturday evening on the road, 89-70.
 
A pair of early threes from Dayton Magana and Chase Bennett gave the Wildcats a quick 8-2 lead in their first game under head coach Elijah Gurash. 18 of Linfield's first 20 points came fro beyond the arc, meanwhile the Beacons tied the game at 20-20 before taking their first lead since the opening possession, 23-20.
 
Bushnell took a six-point lead, while Kohsuke Fujiwara kept the 'Cats within striking distamce in the first half. Logan Morrill's post play helped the Wildcats stay close to the Beacons, trailing 46-40 at the half.
 
A 5-0 run by Bushnell to begin the second half put Linfield on their heels, with Garrett Callsen scoring the 'Cats only bucket through the first seven minutes of the second half. The Bushnell lead grew to as large at 26, with the offensive struggles continuing for Linfield, Fujiwara and Nalu Vargas ended the game with a 5-0 run to make it 89-70 in favor of Bushnell.
 
The 'Cats shot 45% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc, but Bushnell's lead in each category kept the Wildcats from executing in the second half. Chase Bennett was the 'Cats leading scorer with 18, highlighted by 4-8 from beyond the arc. Vargas  followed close with 10-points, and a team-high six rebounds, 
 
Men's basketball prepares for their home opener on Monday evening inside Ted Wilson Gymnasium, set to host the La Verne Leopards. 
 
 
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