LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon made 13 of their final 15 3-point attempts on the night, as the Mountaineers upended Oregon Tech, 88-73, in the Cascade Conference men's basketball opener for both teams at Quinn Coliseum.
 
EOU (4-3, 1-0 CCC) connected on their first seven 3-pointers of the second half, withstanding a rally from the Hustlin' Owls – finishing the night 16-of-25 from long range.
 
"They had some guys make some unbelievable shots from 3-point range – (A.J.) Huddleston had taken two 3s all season and goes 4-for-6 and (Adam) Orr hit some tough shots," said OIT head coach Justin Parnell. "We continued to struggle tonight on the glass, giving up too many offensive boards that extended possessions. We have to find a way to improve in that category"
 
The Owls (3-4, 0-1) opened the game on a 14-8 run, including six quick points from Kody Bauman and a pair of Joey Potts baskets. The Mounties clamped down defensively, holding OIT to one made field goal over an eight-minute stretch, using an 18-6 run to grab a 31-26 lead at the half.
 
Triples from Keegan Shivers and Erik Fraser got OIT even at 48-48 inside the final 14 minutes – but Solomon McGinnis hit three consecutive 3s in a 15-3 run and the hosts withstood the Owls the rest of the night.
 
Fraser led OIT with 21 points and eight rebounds, Shivers scored 17 of his 18 points in the second half, with Joey Potts adding 14 points and four blocks in the loss.
 
Phillip Malatare led five EOU players in double-figures with 18 points.
 
Tech has a quick turnaround, traveling tomorrow for a 5 p.m. (MST) meeting with No. 4-ranked College of Idaho.