KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Lewis-Clark State converted 64-percent of their second half shots, including 6-straight field goals to start a game-changing 24-5 run, as the Warriors clinched the No. 2 seed in the Cascade Conference Tournament with a 97-84 stunner at Danny Miles Court.
LC (20-7, 18-3 CCC), ranked No. 11 in the latest NAIA West ARC rating, needed the road win to boost their playoff chances – riding six players in double-figures to complete a season sweep of the Owls. The Warriors earn home court advantage through the CCC semifinals – and earn the CCC's second automatic bid to nationals if regular-season champ, College of Idaho, wins the tourney crown.
The Hustlin' Owls (22-5, 17-4) saw an 8-game win streak snapped – as the visitors recorded a 41-32 rebound edge and blocked 10 OIT shot attempts.
Tech took a 15-12 lead early in the first half, but Jaedon Bradley hit a jumper and drained a triple in a 7-0 run, giving LC a 26-19 lead, with the visitors taking a 40-35 lead to the break.
The Owls pulled even on a
Kody Bauman 3-point play with just over 15 minutes remaining at 44-44 – but the Warriors responded in a big way. Gorden Boykins converted twice on the offensive end and Bradley knocked down a runner to start the run, capped by consecutive Quentin Raynor 3-pointers, giving the Idaho school a 68-49 lead. LC at one point made 14-of-16 field goal attempts.
OIT made a final push, rattling off 11-straight points inside the final three minutes to cut the gap to 90-82 – but could not get closer.
Bradley had 19 points and post Alton Hamilton scored 18 for LC, with Raynor and John Lustig each scoring 14.
Kam Osborn led OIT with 18 points,
Blake Jensen scored 15, with
Jamison Guerra and
Erik Fraser each scoring 14 – as the Owls finished the night making 46-percent of their field goals – ending a string of games making 50-percent of their field goals at eight.
Tech will close out the regular-season tomorrow night, hosting Walla Walla at 9 p.m. – honoring Bauman, the lone senior, in a pregame ceremony. The Owls, as the No. 3-seed in the CCC Tournament, will host Bushnell on Wednesday in the tourney quarterfinals.
