HELENA, Mont. – Jackson Cooper scored a career-high 26 points leading No. 16-ranked Oregon Tech to a 90-77 victory over the University of Providence in the opening game of the Comfort Suites Classic inside the Carroll PE Center.
 
The sophomore connected on 12-of-15 shot attempts and added nine rebounds, as the Hustlin' Owls (1-0) won for the first time ever in the Treasure State.
 
"I am extremely happy for Coop," said OIT head coach Justin Parnell. "He put in a ton of work during the off-season, and it is paying off."
 
OIT used a pair of big first half runs to build a commanding halftime lead. Trailing 4-2 in the early going, Erik Fraser and Jamison Guerra drained consecutive 3-pointers and Blake Jensen followed with an inside basket, part of a 13-4 run to give the Owls a 15-8 lead. Cooper capped a 14-4 run midway through the half with back-to-back buckets, extending the margin to 29-15. Fraser capped the half with a 3-point play, pushing the lead to 49-31.
 
Tech pushed the advantage to 61-41 with 14 minutes to play on a Keegan Shivers jumper, but the Argos (0-1) cut the deficit to 68-58 on a triple from Jamil Bowles triple with less than 10 minutes left.
 
The Owls turned to their defense, holding UP without a made field goal for a four-minute stretch, with Cooper scoring six points in the 8-0 run that put the game away.
 
Both teams shot well from the field – Tech converting 55-percent of their field goal chances, with UP making 51-percent. Rebounding was the key, as the Owls held a 35-23 edge on the glass – including nine offensive boards, with OIT committing just five turnovers.
 
"I loved how we got out in transition and ran the lanes," Parnell said. Bowles is a really good player and he hurt us, but we rebounded well and played with a ton of energy. Great opening win."
 
Fraser posted 19 points in the victory, with Guerra adding 16 points and eight assists. Shivers logged a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, with Dakota Reber scoring all seven of his points in the second half.
 
Bowles led the Argos with a game-high 31 points.
 
The Owls close out the trip tomorrow night, meeting host Carroll College at 6:30 p.m. (PDT) - live on 92.5 KLAD-FM.