PORTLAND, Ore. - The Lewis & Clark men's basketball team sent its seniors out in style, defeating the Linfield Wildcats 67-50 in the team's final game of the regular season in the Pamplin Sports Center.

The Pioneers end the regular season with a 15-10 overall record and 10-6 conference standing. With the Pios win on Friday night at George Fox the team secured third place in the NWC Tournament, which is slated to begin on Thursday. The Wildcats end their season with a 4-21 record and 2-14 NWC record.

Serg Ovchinnikov led all players with a season-high 22 points, hitting six of his nine attempts from three-point range, while making 8-of-15 from the floor. The junior also ended with three rebounds and an assist. Jason Luhnow contributed 12 points in the win and Carl Appleton finished the night with 10 points. Justin Leathers led all players with eight rebounds, while fellow senior Bradley Carter collected seven boards and a game-high three blocks.

Ryan Potter led the Wildcats with 14 points, while Ryan Cali netted 13 points.

Linfield opened the game with the first score, which would hand them their only lead of the game. With 13:18 on the clock, Carter hit a jumper that sparked a 13-2 Pioneer run, helping the team build a 21-8 advantage.

The Wildcats pulled within single digits with 5:01 to go with a Jordan Clark three-pointer. With 48 seconds remaining until halftime, Ovchinnikov hit his sixth three of the game to give the Pioneers their largest lead of the half at 39-20.

Linfield managed to outscore Lewis & Clark by two points but it would not be enough to ever let them back in the game. The closest that that Pioneers would allow the Wildcats to get was 12 points the rest of the way. 

The Pioneers return to the court on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. in Walla Walla, Wash.  against Whitman in the first round of the tournament.