REDDING, Calif. – Jamison Guerra scored a career-high 24 points, as Oregon Tech used a final minute flurry to force overtime en route to an 84-79 victory over Simpson University in the Grant Center.
 
Jay Elmore canned a corner triple with 31 seconds left in regulation to pull the Hustlin' Owls (3-3) even at 70-70 – with Tech withstanding two game-winning shot attempts in the waning moments to send the game to overtime.
 
In the extra session, back-to-back 3's from Keegan Shivers and Elmore gave OIT their first lead since early in the contest, with Guerra putting the game out of reach with a driving lay-up, extending the margin to 80-72 inside the final two minutes.
 
"Gotta give Simpson and Todd Franklin credit tonight, they had a great game plan," said OIT head coach Justin Parnell. "We made some late game adjustments and guys made plays. Jay Elmore came off the bench and hit some big shots and Jamison Guerra was outstanding. I have to give credit to Coach (Paul) Poetsch, as we substituted Kaison Faust on defense and Elmore on offense – which was key late."
 
OIT had an early 6-1 lead in the opening three minutes, but the Redhawks (4-3) used a 14-3 run to take control of the game – with a Gary Mims 3-pointer giving the hosts a 30-15 lead.
 
SU led 56-46 with seven minutes to play, but Tech fought back. A Guerra steal and Faust lay-up cut the margin to 60-56, with a Guerra 3-pointer from the head of the key tying the game at 64-64.  The Redhawks regained the lead 69-65 inside the final minute, but a Shivers runner and a 1-for-2 trip to the line from SU post Javonntie Jackson led to Elmore's last-second shot.
 
Guerra added five rebounds and five assists in the win – as OIT improved to 44-0 all-time against Simpson. Shivers had 16 points and eight rebounds, Elmore scored a season-high 12, with Faust and Kody Bauman each posting 10 points and eight rebounds.  The Owls made 21-of-36 field goals, including 7-of-12 3-pointers after the break.
 
Jackson led SU with 24 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, with Mims scoring 16 – with Tech holding the Redhawks without a made 3-pointer over the final 25 minutes of the game.
 
OIT returns to action next weekend, opening Cascade Conference play with road games at Eastern Oregon and College of Idaho.