KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The first career double-double from Joey Potts was not enough for Oregon Tech, as rival Southern Oregon used an 11-2 run inside the final seven minutes to erase a Hustlin' Owls lead, as the visiting Raiders picked up an 84-75 win at Danny Miles Court.
 
SOU (4-4, 1-2 CCC) hit 62-percent of their second half field goals to erase a 40-32 halftime deficit and ended the evening 14-of-26 from 3-point range.
 
"I thought we played extremely tough in the first half, limiting the top offensive team in the league to 34-percent shooting," said OIT head coach Justin Parnell. "We lost some assignments in the second half and had a couple tough possessions that swung momentum.
 
The Hustlin' Owls (3-6, 0-3) got an inside bucket from Kody Bauman and a mid-range jumper from Kam Osborn early in the second half to take their largest lead of the night at 44-34 and led 55-50 after a Keegan Shivers triple with 12 minutes remaining.  The visitors caught fire, as Will Graves beat the shot clock with a 23-foot triple, Joe Juhala canned a head of the key trey and Graves buried a 28-footer in transition to give SOU a 59-55 lead.
 
Tech answered, as Potts capped a 6-0 run with a turn-around jumper – giving the hosts a 63-61 lead with seven minutes left – but the Raiders had the answer. Atmar Mundu canned consecutive 3's and scored on a back-door lay-up, as the late flurry extended the lead to 75-67 and SOU hit free throws to secure the win.
 
Potts scored 20 points, with 11 rebounds and three blocks in the loss – his tenth-straight game with 2-or-more blocks. Osborn scored 15, Shivers made 4-of-6 3-pointers, part of a 14-point night, with Bauman posting 10 points and eight rebounds.
 
"Joey Potts and Kody Bauman played outstanding at both ends of the floor," Parnell said. "We needed to get the ball into Joey a bit more in the second half, but credit SOU defensively in limiting his touches."
 
Mundu scored 19 points, Tez Allen had 18 points, with Graves scoring 16 – including 8-of-8 shooting from the line. SOU forced 14 OIT turnovers, turning the miscues into 25 points, while outscoring Tech 42-15 outside the 3-point line.
 
OIT returns to action next Friday, hosting first-place Northwest University at 7:30 p.m.