The basketball adage, “Live by the three, die by the three,” played out on center stage Friday night, as the Linfield Wildcats defeated the visiting Piedmont Lions, 64-52, in the Ted Wilson Gymnasium. 

At first, it seemed as if the Wildcats continued to shoot themselves in the foot, forcing threes left and right. However, the second half was different. While they attempted the same amount, 25 in each half, timely shot-making and forcing turnovers on the defensive end is what helped the Wildcats put the Lions away in the end.

In a sloppy first half consisting of 19 total turnovers and a plethora of threes clanking off the rim by both sides, the ’Cats and the Lions found themselves knotted up at 24 apiece after the first 20 minutes of play. Neither team seemed to grab the upper hand and seize momentum, resulting in only three lead changes. 

The opposing Lions were set on staying in their 2-3 zone for the entirety of the game, seemingly taking the interior scoring away from the Wildcats. Almost falling into their trap, Linfield was more than willing to launch from three-point land, going 15 for 50 in the game. The ’Cats only attempted six shots from within the three-point line during the game. 

Like Piedmont, Linfield was also content playing their own version of a matchup zone. The Lions found far more success penetrating to the basket than the ’Cats. 

Going into the second half eight-minute media timeout down 40-46, Linfield looked a little complacent. On the backend of it however, the Wildcats offense came out firing on all cylinders. After two consecutive threes by Aaron Baune and Trey Bryant, Linfield had tied it up. The momentum swung all the way back to the Wildcats on a two-handed dunk by Max Lommen. Two possessions later, Bryant would knock down another three, this one from considerable range. 

After a Lions layup ended the Linfield 11-0 run, Bryant and Jackson Dupree connected from long range to extend the Linfield lead to eight, 57-49. 

With around a minute left in regulation, the Lions started to play the free-throw game, or, in Layman’s terms, threw in the towel.

Baune, Lommen and Bryant led the way for the Wildcats, scoring 14 apiece. Baune was on triple-double watch, adding on eight rebounds and blocks, respectively. 

The Wildcats will play at Walla Walla on December 20 at 5 p.m. They will return home for a matchup with Warner Pacific on December 28 at 7 p.m.