McMINNVILLE, Ore. - It was all about defense in the second half for Linfield Friday night at Ted Wilson Gymnasium, as Linfield held Simpson to 16 points and 13 percent shooting in the half, on its way to a 78-49 win.

After knocking down eight 3-pointers in the first half, Simpson (0-8) went cold from the floor in the second half, unable to buy a basket throughout the first 10 minutes of the half.

K.C. Wiser and Zach Anderson set the ton for Linfield (4-2, 1-1 NWC) coming out of the break, scoring the nine-straight points to start the half.

Following baskets from Wiser, Anderson and Sergio Rosario, it was David Lee’s 3-pointer with 13:22 to play that put the Wildcats up 46-33. It was not until 12:23 mark that the Red Hawks would score their first points of the half.

Simpson’s first field goal of the second the half didn’t come until Phillip Templeton buried a 3-pointer at the 10:37 mark, trimming the Linfield lead to 50-40.

That would be as close at the Red Hawks would get the rest of the evening.

Linfield answered Templeton’s 3-pointer with six-straight points of its own, building its lead to as many as 23 points.

Wiser led the way with a game-high 27 points on 13-of-18 shooting. Lee was solid all night for the ‘Cats, tallying 15 points on 5-of-5 shooting.

Led by nine rebounds apiece from Anderson and Rosario, the Wildcats outrebounded the Red Hawks 49-27 including 17 offensive boards.

Linfield finished the game with a 54.5 percent clip from the floor. The Wildcats also held a sizeable advantage from the free throw line. Linfield knocked down 16-of-27 free throws, while Simpson attempted just 12 free throws.

During the first half Simpson’s 3-point shooting kept the Red Hawks in the game. After falling behind 11-4 on a K.C. Wiser jumper at the 16:49 mark, the Red Hawks answered back with a 23-8 run over the ensuing 10:59.

Nathan King’s 3-pointer with 5:50 remaining in the half put the Red Hawks up 27-19. King’s 3-pointer was just one of eight Simpson 3-pointers in the first half.

After seeing an early lead slip away, the Wildcats responded with a strong finish going into intermission. Four-straight points from Zach Meikle (Sr., Tacoma, Wash.) brought the ‘Cats within four, before Linfield eventually took a 29-28 advantage on a score from Wiser with 1:51 remaining.

A Jamall Thompson jumper as time expired gave the Red Hawks a 33-31 advantage going into the break.

NEXT: Linfield returns to action Saturday for a 7:30 home game against visiting Warner Pacific.