Linfield Linf 5-9,3-3 NWC

Pacific Lutheran PacL 8-7,2-4 NWC

Linfield Linf

5-9,3-3 NWC

Final

Jan. 17, 2026

Pacific Lutheran PacL

8-7,2-4 NWC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Linfield Linf	32	29	61
Pacific Lutheran PacL	32	48	80

Summary
Box Score

Natasha Freimuth, Linfield Sports Communications

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 01/17 | Chase Fisk, Director of Athletic Communications

Men's basketball comes up short in road trip finale, 80-61 at PLU

TACOMA, Wash. --- Linfield men's basketball (5-9, 3-3 NWC) dropped the final game of the road trip to the north, falling 80-61 to the Lutes.

After last night's heroics, Garrett Callsen opened the game with a dunk and a hook shot, giving Linfield a 4-0 lead. Pacific Lutheran tied the game up a pair of times, before Nalu Vargas drained a three to put the Wildcats back on top, 11-9, at the 15-minute mark. Chase Bennett and Vargas each sank threes to halt a 4-0 run from PLU, extending the lead to 17-13.

A back-and-forth game early on, yet another 6-0 run by PLU was ended with Dayton Magaña making two free throws to tie it back up at 19-19. While Magaña and Logan Morrill got to work down low, the Lutes made numerous threes to take the lead. Bennett and Magaña joined in on the fun from beyond the arc, but the Lutes final bucket of the half sent the game tied 32-32 at the break.

The Wildcats ran out of gas in the second half, while the PLU offense made three-straight baskets to take an early 41-34 lead. An 18-3 run by the Lutes extended the lead to over 20 points in just a five-minute stretch. Bannett made two threes while Vargas sank another of his own to cut into the lead, but the deficit remained at 18 with 7:39 left to play.

Both teams were in foul trouble down the stretch, consistently sinking free throws at both ends, Pacific Lutheran was able to hold onto a 80-61 victory.

Vargas was the leading scorer for Linfield on Saturday afternoon, dropping 13 points, while Bennett's four threes powered his 12 points. Magaña had a team-high five assists while Callsen grabbed six rebounds.

PLU's big second half showed in the box score, out-shooting the 'Cats with a 50% clip from three and 55% from the field.

Men's basketball returns home to Ted Wilson Gymnasium to host the George Fox Bruins next Friday night at 5:30 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.

Print Friendly Version