Oregon Institute of Technology Athletics

COMING UP: at Warner Pacific, Friday, 7:30 p.m.; at Multnomah, Saturday, 5 p.m.
 
92.5 KLAD-FM TO CARRY ALL 28 GAMES: All 28 regular-season men's basketball games, along with all potential postseason contests, will be broadcast live in the Klamath Basin on Oregon's Country Giant, 92.5 KLAD-FM. Hall of Fame Voice of the Owls, Bobby Thompson, returns for his 33rd year behind the microphone, joined by new OIT sports information director, Mike Safford. Each broadcast begins 30 minutes prior to tip-off with the Justin Parnell Show, with fans outside the KLAD listening area able to listen online.
 
WATCH ONLINE: Fans who do not trek to the Portland metro will be able to watch both weekend games online. Friday's game at Warner Pacific will feature both Live Video and Live Stats through WPU's Stretch Internet Portal, while Saturday at Multnomah, Live Video will be streamed through MU's YouTube Channel and Live Stats will be provided through MU's PrestoSports Portal.
 
OWLS SNAP LOSING STREAK IN IMPRESSIVE FASHION: Tech put an 0-3 start to conference play in the rearview mirror, playing their best basketball of the season in back-to-back home wins to close out the 2022 home portion of the schedule. The Owls made a combined 57-percent of their field goals and averaged 97 points per game in the victories over Northwest and Evergreen State – knocking NU out of first place and moving past ESC in the CCC standings. Defense was crucial, as OIT held the Washington schools to 39-percent shooting from the field (33-percent from 3-point range) and 67 points per game.
 
OVER THE CENTURY MARK: The Owls have scored over 100 points in a game 188 times in program history, including the pre-Christmas win over Northwest. Tech has an 18-game win streak when scoring 100-or-more points in a game and 2022-23 marks the tenth-straight season the club has scored 100-points in at least one game. OIT scored 100 points in a game for the first time on Feb. 9, 1957, against Eastern Oregon (110-62) – starting a streak of 66-straight wins when scoring 100 points that stretched 33 years – with the Owls a combined 178-10 when scoring 100 points.
 
DOMINATING THE BOARDS: After losing the battle on the boards in six of their first seven games, OIT has turned the rebound tide in a big way – pulling down more rebounds than their foes in 4-straight games, including a 28-rebound edge in the weekend wins. The Owls rode a plus-10 edge in the victory over Northwest and added 18-more boards (including 17 offensive rebounds) than Evergreen State, with Tech now holding the No. 3 rebound margin in the CCC (+3.7).
 
MAKING FREE THROWS: Free throws were important in the win over Evergreen State, as the Hustlin' Owls converted 28-of-40 attempts from the stripe. The 28 free throws made were the most by an OIT team since 2019 (vs. UC Merced) and the 40 attempts were the most since 2014 (vs. Simpson). After starting the season making 61-percent of their free throws (through five games), Tech has converted 70-percent of their freebies over the last five outings.
 
HUGE BOOST OFF THE BENCH: OIT reserves were the key in the home victories, combining for 97 points in the two games. Jay Elmore found his shooting rhythm, connecting on 9-of-17 3-pointers – scoring a season-high 18 vs. Northwest and adding 11 points vs. Evergreen State, moving to No. 6 in the CCC in 3-point percentage (.457). Kaison Faust combined for 21 rebounds on the weekend, tying a career-high with 12 rebounds vs. ESC – his third career game with 10-or-more boards. Noah Thomas had a breakout game vs. ESC, scoring a career-high 23 points – converting 10-of-15 field goal attempts in the two contests. Blake Jensen cracked the double-digit scoring column for the first time as a Hustlin' Owl, tallying 10 points in the win over NU – making all four field goal attempts in the two victories.
 
OSBORN ON A ROLL: Tech got back-to-back big efforts from point-guard Kam Osborn, scoring 13 points in the two wins. The sophomore made 9-of-15 field goal attempts and converted 7-of-9 free throws, while adding six total assists. Osborn is averaging 14 points per game over the last three contests.
 
BIG NIGHT FROM FRASER: Guard Erik Fraser was key to the win over Northwest, filling up the stat sheet with 15 points, five rebounds and a career-high six assists. The sophomore made 8-of-10 free throws over the weekend and has converted 81-percent of his free throw attempts this season.
 
BAUMAN LEADS THE CCC: Forward Kody Bauman had another outstanding weekend, converting 10-of-16 field goals, continued to top the conference in field goal percentage (.649). The transfer scored a season-high 16 points and added seven rebounds in the victory over Evergreen State – his fifth game this season with 7-or-more rebounds.
 
BLOCKS PILING UP: Joey Potts continued his defensive prowess, recording a combined six blocks in the two victories, pushing his league-leading total to 34 – already surpassing his blocks total from the 2021-22 season. The senior ranks No. 5 in the NAIA with his 3.1 blocks per game average, registering 12-straight game with 2-or-more blocks. Potts added 19 points and nine rebounds in the wins, converting 7-of-10 field goals, remaining No. 2 in the CCC in field goal percentage (.634).
 
PARTY IN THE ROSE CITY: The Owls head to Portland this weekend for their annual match-ups against Warner Pacific and Multnomah. Since the two teams became travel partners in 2015 (with MU joining the CCC), Tech has swept the road series in four of the last five years. OIT has played 133 previous games in the Rose City – including each of the last 30 seasons – as Portland State (in the Oregon Collegiate Conference), Columbia Christian and Lewis & Clark (District 2), along with Concordia, Cascade, Warner Pacific and Multnomah (Cascade Conference) have been league foes, with the Owls recording a 77-56 mark in the city limits.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – WARNER PACIFIC: OIT earns a rematch with Warner Pacific, as the Knights (6-4, 3-2 CCC) knocked the Owls out of the 2022 CCC Championships. The new-look WPU squad had a 5-game win streak snapped with losses at Eastern Oregon and College of Idaho, but average 76 points per game on the season and convert 45-percent of their field goal attempts. The Knights, who have played just two home games this season, rely on returning guards Thomas Miles (19.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 3.0 spg) and Isaac Etter (17.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg) – one of the top backcourt tandems in the league. Forwards Dakota Reber (10.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and Caleb-Tyree Morgan (7.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.5 bpg) headline the players on the block. The two teams have met 92 previous times, dating back to 1966.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – MULTNOMAH: Tech closes out 2022 at Multnomah, facing a Lions (6-5, 1-4) team that has been dominant at home and struggled on the road. MU is a perfect 5-0 at Skagen Court – winning each of the games by double-digit margins and scoring over 100 points three times – while losing 3-of-4 road games by 20 points or more, failing to score 78 in their road losses. Nomah averages 89 points a game on the year and converts 10 3-pointers a night, but allow 84 points a night and commit 15 turnovers a contest. Fifth-year senior Zach Richardson (21.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg) leads the CCC in scoring average and has surpassed 2,000 career points, post Tyrese Taylor (15.3 ppg, 10.3 rpg) leads the league in rebound average, with point-guard Neyland Block (10.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 6.0 apg) leading the CCC in assists.
 
ON NEW YEAR'S EVE?: The Owls will put a perfect 8-0 record on New Year's Eve on the line at Multnomah – having picked up victories to close out 1979, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2015 and 2016 – including two previous wins against MU. OIT has played on New Year's Day just twice – losing at College of Idaho in 2000 and winning at Northwest in 2022.
 
SUCCESS IN DANNY'S HOUSE: Since OIT moved to their current campus in 1964, the Hustlin' Owls have had a decisive home floor advantage inside the Athletic Center – winning nearly 82-percent of their home games. In the first 58 seasons Tech has played on what is now known as Danny Miles Court, the Owls hold a 770-172 overall record in the building – including an 83-12 mark under current head coach Justin Parnell. OIT has recorded a winning record in 56-of-58 seasons (going 5-7 in 1965-66 and 1-8 in 1970-71), including undefeated records four times (1986-87, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11).
 
AROUND THE CASCADE CONFERENCE: Three teams were tied atop the CCC prior to the final weekend before the Christmas Break – but only College of Idaho survived, as the Yotes head into the week at 5-0, the lone unbeaten team in the circuit. Both Northwest and Warner Pacific were swept on their recent road trips and sit in a 4-team logjam at 3-2 (with LC State and Southern Oregon), a game behind Corban and Eastern Oregon. This weekend, C of I and EOU head to LC and Walla Walla, Corban and Bushnell travel to Washington to meet NU and Evergreen State, with OIT and Southern off to the Portland schools.
 
RECORD BOOK: Five members of the Hustlin' Owls are among the Top-75 in the OIT Men's Basketball Career Record Book. Kaison Faust ranks No. 35 in free throw attempts (259), No. 37 in rebounds (459), No. 41 in blocked shots (26) and in free throws made (181), No. 53 in games played (96), No. 56 in steals (60), No. 58 in field goals made (309), No. 65 in points scored (799) and just outside the Top-75 in field goal attempts (544), with Keegan Shivers No. 30 in 3-pointers made (106), No. 35 in 3-point attempts (257) and No. 75 in steals (41). Joey Potts is No. 10 in blocked shots (63); Jamison Guerra is No. 60 in assists (164), No. 73 in 3-point attempts (114), No. 75 in steals (41) and in 3-pointers made (33); Erik Fraser is No. 66 in 3-pointers made (46) and in 3-point attempts (136); with Kam Osborn just outside the Top-75 in 3-pointers made (29) and attempted (93).
 
3-POINT STREAK NEARING THE 1,000 MARK: The 3-point shot has been key to the Hustlin' Owls success over the years, with Tech converting at least one 3-pointer in 965 consecutive games. OIT last failed to make a 3-pointer on Dec. 4, 1992, at Humboldt State, going 0-for-7 from outside the arch. During the streak, the Owls made one 3-pointer in a game on five occasions.
 
LOOKING AHEAD: The Owls open the 2023 portion of the schedule at home, hosting Corban (Jan. 6) and Bushnell (Jan. 7) – two of six games to be played in the Basin in January.