KLAMATH FALLS – A 21-point second-half swing went Southern Oregon's way for an 82-68 defeat of Linfield in the Lithia Classic on Saturday afternoon at Danny Miles Court.
Senior guard Mason Whittaker scored eight of his team-high 12 points after the break as the Raiders (5-1) flipped a 40-37 deficit with a 10-0 run to start the half. Sophomore forward Bryce Dyer finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds, logging his second double-double of the season with eight and six over the final 20 minutes.
SOU shot 48% from the field, boosting that number with an 18-of-32 effort in the second half. Liam Clark and Joe Juhala had nine points apiece; Jacob Axmaker and Elijah Jackson both scored eight.
The Raiders led by double figures for the final 14 minutes. Their lead was as large as 18 with 3:31 left to play.
The meeting was the first between them and Linfield (1-4) since 2005. Josh Ryan's 12 points led the Wildcats, though he got seven of those at the free-throw line.
The game capped a successful nonleague run for the Raiders, whose only loss was suffered in overtime Friday against No. 4-ranked Arizona Christian. They've yet to play at home, and they'll be on the road for their first six Cascade Conference games, starting Dec. 6 at No. 2 College of Idaho.