McMINNVILLE, Ore.- The Pacific University men's basketball team dropped a contest on Tuesday night against Linfield. The Wildcats were able to overcome a 15-point halftime deficit to earn a 95-87 victory in double overtime.
 
Pacific (4-8, 0-3 NWC) battled all night in a game that saw multiple scoring runs and droughts from both teams. Pacific had an efficient night from the floor shooting 33-68 (48.5%). Mario Mora (Senior/ Bend, OR) tied his season high with 23 points while knocking down six three-pointers.
 
Linfield (8-3, 3-0 NWC) was led offensively by Jackson Dupree who had 21 points on 9-10 shooting. With the victory the Wildcats remain undefeated in conference play.
 
 
How It Happened

The Boxers and Wildcats opened the game relatively even both scoring twice on their first five shots. A Wildcat layup at the 13:25 mark ending a scoring drought from both sides that last three minutes and seven seconds. The Boxers scoring drought lasted seven minutes before Lucas Winkler (Freshman/Portland, OR) converted a running layup in the paint. With 10:15 remaining in the first half and at the second media timeout of the half, the Boxers and Wildcats were tied at 13 apiece. The Boxers and Wildcats would play the next seven minutes exactly even before the Boxer offense began to find its groove fueled by two big blocks and a thunderous alley-oop slam from Jacob Bolger (Junior/ Portland, OR). The Boxers were able to take a 39-24 lead into the halftime break.
 
Linfield however would not go away opening the second half on an 10-2 scoring run over the first four minutes of the second half. The Boxers scoring drought lasted 4:38 before Ethan Chung (Junior/ San Ramon, CA) converted a floater in the lane. At the under 12 media timeout the Boxers were on top 46-43 with the teams combining to shoot 8-32 (25%) from long range. With 9:38 remaining in the game the Wildcats converted a mid-range jumper to take a 49-48 lead for their first lead since 4:08 remained in the first half. The Boxers just as the Wildcats did would not throw in the towel and were able to take a 68-67 lead with 3:11 remaining on a Trevon Ridley (Junior/ Murieta, CA) three-point field goal. The Boxers were unable to convert a pair of free throws with 17.4 seconds left however Ridley collected an offensive rebound and put it back to tie the game at 72 with 12 seconds remaining. A last baseline inbound play would not be converted by the Boxers sending the game into overtime at 72 all.
 
The Boxers and Wildcats would trade buckets in each of their opening possessions of overtime. Down 79-78 with 1:56 remaining Ridley would step to the line converting a pair of free throws to take an 80-79 lead for the Boxers. Following a missed Chung three, Pacific corralled the offensive rebound before Mora hit a contested three from range to take an 83-79 lead with 57 seconds remaining. A Linfield desperation three from logo was converted to tie the game at 83 sending the game into a second overtime.
 
Linfield would get fouled on the opening position and convert two free throws before forcing a Pacific turnover on their first possession. Linfield would be able to convert on their first four possessions of the second extra period on the way to the 95-87 double overtime victory.

By The Numbers
 

• The Boxers had 5 players finish in double figures.
• Pacific had 7 steals in the contest while forcing 13 turnovers total.

 
 
Up Next
 
The Boxers will take on Lewis & Clark on Friday, January 14^th with a tipoff time set for 8 P.M. inside the Stoller Center.
 
For the latest information on Pacific Athletics, make sure to check out GoBoxers.com. You can also find the Boxers on social media at @GoBoxers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
#GoBoxers

  Read Full Article