PORTLAND, Ore. — Lewis & Clark men's basketball used a strong first half and clutch free-throw shooting late to secure an 80-71 Northwest Conference victory over Linfield University at Pamplin Sports Center on Saturday night.

THE BASICS

Lewis & Clark 80, Linfield 71
(Lewis & Clark 12-11, 8-6 NWC)
(Linfield 7-16, 4-10 NWC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Senior Isaac Ticeson recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds to pace the Pioneers, while fellow senior Sam Henderson chipped in 17 points. Senior Mikey Medlock Jr. added 13 points, and junior Kody Uyesugi provided a spark off the bench with 14 points.

The two Willamette Valley teams' shooting was affected by the recent winter weather in the area early in the game, as they combined for just 20 points in the first eight minutes. Uyesugi's first 3-pointer put the Pioneers ahead 11-9. The teams traded baskets for the next four minutes before Ticeson scored seven points during a 9-2 run that pushed Lewis & Clark's lead to 29-20 at the 5:23 mark. Linfield trimmed the deficit to 29-24, but Uyesugi buried a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to send the Pioneers into halftime up 39-28.

Linfield mounted several second-half rallies. After closing within 44-38, Uyesugi was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made all three free throws. He then intercepted a Wildcats pass and found senior Ryan Trunkett for a 3-pointer, extending the lead to 50-38 with 12 minutes remaining.

Following the media timeout, Uyesugi gave the Pios their largest lead of the night at 52-38. Linfield, however, continued to battle, cutting the deficit to just four at 54-50 with 6:52 left. Lewis & Clark responded with a decisive 13-5 run over the next two and a half minutes, highlighted by Medlock Jr.'s 3-pointer and a foul. The senior converted the free throw to complete the four-point play.

Despite a late push from Linfield—including two 3-pointers from Dayton Magana (19 points) in the final minute—Lewis & Clark sealed the win by converting 19-of-25 free throws in the second half.

BY THE NUMBERS
 

• First-year Darius Wilcher made his collegiate debut, recording an assist and a rebound in eight minutes.
• Henderson has scored double figures in 12 games this season, and in three of the last four, he shot 7-of-8 from the free-throw line and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc.
• With two regular-season games remaining, the Pioneers are tied for third place with Whitman, one game behind second-place Pacific Lutheran and one game ahead of George Fox and Puget Sound.
• Lewis & Clark split its season series with both Whitman and Puget Sound, lost to Pacific Lutheran on the road, and defeated George Fox at home. The Pioneers face both teams next week to close the regular season and determine the final four teams in the Northwest Conference Tournament.

WHO'S NEXT

Lewis & Clark visits George Fox on Friday for a 6 p.m. Northwest Conference matchup.