McMINNVILLE, Ore. — Pacific grabbed the lead 36 seconds into the contest and never relinquished it during a 85-76 men's basketball win over Linfield on Friday night at Ted Wilson Gymnasium.

Pacific evened their overall record to 12-12 with the Northwest Conference road victory and to 6-9 in league play. The host Wildcats dropped to 10-14 on the year and to 4-11 in conference battles.

Michael Joseph drilled a three-pointer just a half minute into the game to give Pacific a 3-0 lead and they would never trail on the scoreboard after that. The Boxers built a 23-8 margin and would push that to 29-10 early in the first half.

Linfield hit just three of their first 18 shots from the field (17 percent).

The visitors led 39-25 at the break, behind Skyler Burgess' 12 points and six rebounds.

Pacific kept a double digit lead for most of the second half until late in the game when Vince Romeo's basket brought the Wildcats to within seven points (77-70) with just under three minutes to play. Free throws by Robin Potter made it a five-point game (81-76) with 56 seconds left.

But charity makes by J.J. Spitler and K.C. Harrison down the stretch kept the Wildcats at arms length.

Burgess would finish with 22 points and 14 rebounds, hitting 9-of-11 shots from the field. Harrison had 22 as well, drilling 11 of his 13 free throw attempts. Joseph was in double figures with 14 points.

The Boxers would out-rebound the Wildcats 46-26.

Romeo had 23 points to pace Linfield.

Pacific will put a wrap on the season on Saturday, taking on Lewis & Clark in Portland. Start time is 6 p.m.