McMINNVILLE, Oregon – Mussie Teclemariam matched his season-high in scoring, and Paul Johnson contributed another 20-point game, but the Puget Sound men's basketball team lost at Linfield, 74-68, Saturday night.
 
Teclemariam shot 7-for-9 from the floor for 16 points, and he added eight rebounds for the Loggers (8-11, 3-7 NWC). Johnson scored exactly 20 points, marking his third consecutive game with at least 20 points, and his ninth overall at or above that mark.
 
Freshman Taj Phillips chipped in 14 points. It was his seventh game with double digits in scoring. Cal Hansen got into foul trouble against the Wildcats (13-5, 8-2 NWC), and he was held to just one point on three shots.
 
Linfield claimed a 45-32 lead two minutes into the second half, but the Loggers were not deterred. Phillips drilled a 3-pointer to bring Puget Sound to within single digits, 66-59, with 4:12 on the clock.
 
Nearly two minutes later, Johnson hit a jumper to make it a 68-63 game. After Linfield went 1-for-2 at the free-throw line, Phillips hit yet another trey to make it a one-possession game, 69-66.
 
After the Wildcats made two free-throws, Johnson found a wide open Teclemariam under the basket for an easy bucket to bring the Loggers to within three points with one minute left. However, that layup stood the last points of the game for Puget Sound.
 
The Loggers continue their road stretch at Lewis & Clark Friday, Feb. 4, at 8 p.m.