Linfield University Athletics

MCMINNVILLE, Ore. --- Linfield men's basketball (2-6, 0-1 NWC) snapped a five-game losing streak on Friday evening inside Ted Wilson Gymnasium, cruising to a 67-44 victory over the Alma Scots. The Wildcats improved to 2-0 at home in non-conference play. 
 
Although the Scots took a 1-0 lead with a single free throw, Kohsuke Fujiwara made the Wildcats first basket at the 18:43 mark with a lay-in. Alma tied it multiples times over the next seven minutes, just before Fujiwara made the first three of the game to give Linfield an 11-8 lead at the under 12 media timeout.
 
Chase Bennett made it back-to-back threes on the 'Cats first possession out of the media timeout, extending the lead to 14-8, capping off a 6-0 run. Lucca Hart and Garrett Callsen helped the 'Cats take a 21-10 lead over a five-minute scoring drought from Alma. Donovan Johnson executed from the charity stripe while Dayton Magaña found his stroke from beyond the arc to make it 26-14 with 3:42 remaining in the first half.
 
The half ended with Callsen and Magaña combining for a steal and fast break, closing out the half on an 8-2 run, with a 34-17 lead over the Scots. 17 points is the fewest the 'Cats have allowed to an opponent this season.
 
A nearly two-and-a-half minute scoring drought opened the second and half for Linfield, ended by Callsen in the paint. Callsen continued to work down low, executing an and-one opportunity just before the under-16 timeout, putting the 'Cats up 41-22. 
 
Alma began to claw back, cutting the deficit to 13, although Peyton Reyes and Callsen drained threes while Fujiwara went to the rim to extend the lead back to 21. The offense continued to roll behind Reyes and Fujiwara, while Nalu Vargas got on the board with a pair of threes, making the lead the largest thus far of the game at 24. 
 
Both squads went scoreless over a four-minute stretch while Linfield commanded a 23-point lead. Bennett ended the cold offensive stretch, draining a three inside of four minutes to play. Freshman Jackson Bluhm saw his first minutes down the stretch, getting on the stat sheet with a turnaround jumper. 
 
Linfield's offensive outburst propelled them to a 67-44 win, snapping a five-game skid. Callsen led all scorers with 19 points on 7-13 from the field, draining his long attempt from beyond the arc. He also added six rebounds, two steals, and a block in the game. Fujiwara got it done on the glass, grabbing eight boards to go with his 11 points, Bennet and Magaña each dished four of the 'Cats 15 assists. 

"I'm really proud of the effort our team put in on the defensive end." Said first-year head coach Elijah Gurash. "They were disciplined and played for one another tonight."
 
Linfield outshot Alma, with 41% from the field to the Scots just 27%. The Wildcats also held the Scots to just 2-18 from beyond the arc, creating the separating in the score. 
 
The Wildcats wrap up non-conference play tomorrow evening on the road, heading to Monmouth, Oregon, to take on the Western Oregon Wolves at 7:30 p.m.
 
To follow Linfield Wildcats coverage all season long, visit golinfieldwildcats.com. Please consider following Linfield Athletics on Facebook, and @LinfieldSports on Instagram and X.com. 
 
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