McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Joel Paul poured in a career-high 23 points off the bench and Linfield shot 61 percent from the field in a 101-77 victory over Pacific Lutheran in the Northwest Conference men's basketball opener for both schools on Saturday night at Ted Wilson Gymnasium.

Paul sank 9-of-11 shots from the floor, including all four of his attempts in the first half, sparking the Wildcats (3-6, 1-0 NWC) to the home-court victory over the Lutes (2-6, 0-1 NWC).

Four other Wildcats reached double figures in scoring. Playing his first game since November, K.C. Wiser pumped in 17 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. Cody Tesoro hit a trio of 3-pointers on his way to 15 points, Zach Anderson had 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting, and Joseph Vance contributed 10 points to go with five assists and two steals.

Kyle MacTaggart scored a team-best 22 points for PLU, Victor Bull had 13 points and six rebounds, and Gabe Smith had 11 points and four rebounds to pace the Lutes.

Paul's layup just three minutes into the game gave the Wildcats a 6-5 lead, one they would not surrender the rest of the way. Three minutes later, Paul fed Wiser for a three pointer basketball and the Wildcats led by double-digits, 15-5. PLU drew within seven points, 37-30, on a pair of free throws by Victor Bull, but Linfield eventually built to a 48-36 halftime bulge.

With Paul scoring a dozen points in the first half, the Wildcats were nearly unstoppable from the field during the opening 20 minutes, hitting 70 percent of their shots (19-of-27). Paced by MacTaggart's 12 first-half points, the Lutes shot 40 percent (12-of-30).

The second half was all Linfield as the 'Cats never trailed by fewer than 14 points and led by as many as 29 in the closing minutes.

Linfield finished with a .613 shooting clip while the Lutes remained at .400.

The Lutes return to Northwest Conference action at 6 p.m. Sunday when they play the Pacific Boxers in Forest Grove, Ore.

(Courtesy of Linfield Sports Information Office.)