Both teams struggled from the field all night, connecting on only 31 shots between them. Pacific (8-12, 2-9 NWC) outshot the Wildcats 37 percent (15-40) to 29 percent (16-54), but still had to fend off a late Linfield run to take the contest.
Branden Kawazoe led all scorers with 20 points, connecting on four three-pointers in the first half to go along with two assists and a critical block late in the game. Kyle Motta finished with 12 points, six rebounds and two blocks. Mison Henley’s seven rebounds led the Boxers. Ryan Monagle led the Linfield (5-15, 2-9 NWC) cause with 14 points, while Steve Taylor finished with 13.
Linfield led the majority of the way in the first half, going ahead early 11-7 on Monagle’s three-pointer, before a lay-in and a pair of free throws by Ross Bartlett gave Pacific a 12-11 lead with 12:11 to go. Both teams went cold over the next four minutes with only field goal between the two teams.
Taylor tried to jump start Linfield will his three-pointer with 6:08 left that gave the Wildcats an 18-12 lead. His second three-pointer of the night gave Linfield a seven-point edge with 2:36 to go before Henley started a 10-0 run to close the half for the Boxers. Kawazoe added the exclamation point, knocking down his fourth three-pointer of the night with five seconds left to give Pacific a 32-29 halftime lead.
Except for a brief 30 second stretch in the opening minutes, the Boxers held the lead in a slow second half that saw each team hit only five field goals in the stanza. A pair of Motta free throws to open up a 42-36 lead with 13:19 left, but Matt McGowan’s longball opened a 7-1 run over the next four minutes to tie the contest at 43-43.
Both teams combined for two field goals in the final 9:40, leaving the Boxers to win the game from the free throw line. Pacific led by as much as five with 2:24 left, then watched as Brian Murphy hit a lay-in and free throw to cut the lead to two with 1:21 left. After Kawazoe missed a jumper, Van Loon had a chance to tie with a 10-foot jump shot with 32 seconds left. Kawazoe atoned for the miss, coming up with a block and regaining possession. The Boxers hit 4 for 6 from the line the rest of the way for the win.
The Boxers now hit the road for their final two away contests, playing at George Fox Saturday night. The Wildcats return home Saturday, hosting Pacific Lutheran.