Skip To Main Content

Whitman College Athletics

Schedule

Darne Duckett
82
Linfield Linf 12-5,6-2 NWC
99
Winner Whitman Whitm 13-4,8-0 NWC
Linfield Linf
12-5,6-2 NWC
82
Final
99
Whitman Whitm
13-4,8-0 NWC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Linfield Linf 39 43 82
Whitman Whitm 44 55 99

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Blues Cruise Past Linfield, Remain Undefeated In NWC

WALLA WALLA, Wash. - Whitman entered the day as the Northwest Conference's lone unbeaten team and exited even better. In a matchup between two of the league's elite, the Blues separated themselves from the pack with a 99-82 win over Linfield on Saturday night at the Sherwood Center. The Blues improve to 13-4 overall and 8-0 in conference with Linfield dropping to 12-5 and 6-2.

Darne Duckett led the Blues with 24 points off the bench. Jaron Kirkley scored 22 points and pulled down seven rebounds with Duckett also handing out a team-best five assists.

Both teams shot it well, scoring effectively in both the paint and outside the three-point line. It were the Blues that imposed their will and style of play however. Nearly doubling up the Wildcats in fast break points (22-12) and second chance points (15-8), Whitman's pace proved to be too much for Linfield to handle.

Dempsey Roggenbuck was the game's high scorer, dropping 27 points on 11-17 shooting and dishing out a game-high eight assists. Aaron Baune scored 15 points off the Linfield bench and Tanner Autencio added six points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

The Wildcats opened the game firing on all cylinders. Autencio and Grant Gibb both hit three-pointers to help Linfield to a 14-2 lead just 3:26 into the game. It didn't take long for the Blues to work themselves back into the game. Bryce Mulder's layup sparked a 10-0 Whitman run then, later, Trevor Osborne's three pointer cut the lead to one midway through the first half.

Linfield found the touch again as back-to-back three pointers from Roggenbuck gave his team a 31-19 lead with 8:26 to play. In what was proving to be a game of momentum and runs, the Blues scored 12 unanswered points and took a 44-39 lead into the break.

Whitman grabbed control of the game early in the second half. Nikola Trifunovic nailed a three pointer just nine seconds into the period then connected on a jumper as the Blues opened up a double digit lead. Baune hit a couple of three pointers to keep the Wildcats within striking distance but Whitman eventually pulled away. Andrew Vickers all but sealed the game with a three pointer that put his team up 21 points with 2:23 to play.

Whitman now begins its longest road stretch of the conference season. First up is a visit this Friday, Jan. 31 to Pacific Lutheran. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m.
 
#GoWhitman


 
Print Friendly Version
Skip Ad
Skip Sponsors

Slideshow Parallax