MCMINNVILLE, Ore.  In Whitman's men's basketball culture, the "one-game schedule" is catechistic, and serves not to segment the overall journey of the season but to define the journey as moment. In this way, the value the program places on "meaningful work," as junior post Jojo Wiggins has called it, is embraced at a granular level, in the smallest movement and gesture.

Thanks to the four-minute miracle summoned by the Blues here Saturday, the next one-game schedule holds the promise of an historic prize.

Whitman demolished a nine-point deficit over the final 4:33 and ended the game on a 13-2 run, beating Linfield 67-65 in a Northwest Conference game to move within one victory of clinching their first conference title since 1987, their first outright conference title since 1981, and their first conference title, ever, as an NCAA institution.

"Without a doubt, that was the greatest win of our season," Whitman head coach Eric Bridgeland said. "The guys showed unbelievable fight and trust in each other."

Austin Butler's put-back with 1:12 left in the game tied it at 65-all. After a Butler blocked shot helped Whitman secure the ball at the other end, Butler drove the paint and fed Wiggins for the go-ahead layin with 24 seconds left. Joey Hewitt's steal as the game clock slipped under five seconds sealed the comeback for the Blues, who had fallen behind 63-54 on Tyler Watts' layup for Linfield with 4:33 left.

Watts' make would prove to be the 'Cats' final field goal of the game.

"Somehow, when we needed it, we found a way to get stops," said Bridgeland.

Whitman (21-0, 12-0 NWC) remained the only undefeated NCAA Division III men's basketball team in the country.

With the win, the second-ranked Blues clinched no lower than a second-place finish in the NWC and locked up their seventh consecutive appearance in the conference tournament. Regardless of how Whitman fares over its remaining four games, it will host an NWC tournament semifinal on Feb. 23 at Sherwood Center.

The Blues flirted with season-lows in every shooting category -- 38.1 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from the 3-point line, 44.8 percent (on 13-of-29 shooting) from the free throw line -- but stood tall defensively and found a way. Jase Harrison started the 13-2 finishing kick with a pair of free throws at the 4:27 mark, making it 63-56, Linfield.

Butler drew a charge, and Harrison split a pair of free throws on the possession that earned. Then Wiggins drew a charge, and Hewitt ripped a 3-pointer.

Liam O'Reilly scored the last Linfield points of the game on two free throws with 2:59 left, the 'Cats creeping ahead 65-60. But Harrison sliced inside for a basket to make it a three-point game.

Hewitt missed a 3-pointer that would have tied it, but Butler grabbed one of Whitman's 16 steals as the shot clock forsook Linfield, and pushed down court. He was fouled with 1:33 left and split a pair of free throws, trimming the Blues deficit to 65-63.

Butler's put-back, blocked shot and assist to Wiggins on the game-winner would follow.

The Wildcats called timeout and inbounded the ball at midcourt with 18.8 seconds left, running offense until Hewitt jumped a passing lane and stole away the upset bid, once and forever.

Harrison had 17 points and four steals for the winners. Butler added 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting, grabbed 10 rebounds and had two steals. Hewitt added 12 points, and Jack Stewart collected six steals to go along with seven points.

Tim Howell salvaged a frustrating first half for Whitman by banking in a runner with one second left to give the Blues a 31-30 halftime lead, but appeared to tweak his ankle on the landing and saw limited minutes in the second-half.

Whitman's defensive pressure made life rough for Linfield over the first 20 minutes, but the Blues struggled to cash in on 13 Wildcat turnovers. Whitman made just 12 of 29 field goals.

Aside from Howell (4-of-7 field goal shooting, nine points) and Butler (4 of 5, eight points), who did their damage on incisive drives to the rack, the Blues made just 4 of 17 shots.

Harrison had eight points and four of Whitman's nine steals in the half.

The Blues visit the University of Puget Sound at 8 p.m. on Friday.