LEWISTON, Idaho – Lewis-Clark State outscored Oregon Tech 12-3 over the final three and a half minutes, erasing a 71-64 deficit to outlast the Hustlin' Owls, 76-74, at P1FCU Activity Center.
 
The Warriors (7-9, 4-6 CCC) snapped a 4-game losing streak, surviving a big second half rally by the visitors.
 
"This is a tough one to swallow," said OIT head coach Justin Parnell. "To have a 7-point lead late and not able to close the game out is tough. We have proven we can play with every team in this league – but haven't been able to close games out when we need to."
 
LC made 10 of their first 14 field goals – including 3-straight from John Lustig in an 8-0 run to give the hosts a 17-10 lead – with the margin growing to 26-15 on a Will Abram dunk.
 
The Hustlin' Owls (7-9, 4-6) trailed 39-29 early in the second half, but chipped away at the deficit – limiting the Warriors to 15-of-42 shooting over the final 28 minutes of the game. A Kody Bauman basket was followed by 6-straight Kam Osborn points – his triple tying the game at 44-44 – with a Keegan Shiver 3-pointer capping the 11-0 run that gave OIT their first lead since early in the contest.
 
Shivers hit third 3-pointer of the night to close a 9-1 run late in the game, giving the visitors their largest lead of the night at 71-64 with 3:39 remaining – but OIT did not convert another field goal.
 
Lay-ups from Lustig and Davion Brown, along with a triple from Silas Bennion, cut the deficit to 73-72. Following an OIT turnover, Bennion was fouled with 30 seconds remaining, hitting both free throws to give LC the lead. Tech did not get a chance to win the game, as a turnover with six seconds left gave the hosts the possession, and LC sealed the win at the line.
 
Osborn led OIT with 18 points, with Bauman finishing with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Shivers had 16 points, six rebounds and five assists, with Joey Potts scoring 14 in the loss. Tech made 67-percent of their second half field goals in a game that featured 46 fouls and 57 free throws.
 
Brown scored a game-high 25 points for LC, with Lustig adding 22, as the Warriors scored 20 points off 17 OIT turnovers.
 
Tech closes out the road trip tomorrow night, traveling to Walla Walla University for a 9 p.m. tip.