KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Oregon Tech used a balanced scoring attack to hold off a late Southern Oregon rally, as the Hustlin' Owls completed a season sweep of their rivals, earning a 76-67 victory at Danny Miles Court.
The No. 23-ranked Hustlin' Owls (18-4, 13-3 CCC) extended their win streak to four – making 55-percent of their field goal chances in tonight's victory.
SOU (12-10, 10-6) opened the game on a 10-2 run, as Cole McAninch knocked down a pair of triples, but Tech answered the Raiders run by scoring 15 of the next 17 points.
Kody Bauman had an emphatic dunk,
Jay Elmore canned a long 3-pointer and
Erik Fraser scored off a backdoor play to give the hosts the lead.
Tied at 19-19, OIT closed the first half on a 16-4 run over the final eight minutes of the half, with a Fraser lay-up at the final horn giving Tech their largest lead at 35-23.
The margin grew to 56-38 on an Elmore putback, but the Raiders battled back. Dominic McGarvey scored seven points, including a long 3-pointer and Ethan Blythe scored off an offensive rebound – part of a 19-6 run that cut the OIT lead to 62-57.
Tech persevered behind
Blake Jensen, as the post hammered home a pair of dunks inside the final four minutes and made two key free throws with 90 seconds left to keep the Raiders at bay. The Owls finished 13-of-15 from the foul line – including 6-of-6 shooting inside the final two minutes.
Kam Osborn scored 13 points,
Jamison Guerra recorded 12 points with six assists and Fraser scored 11 in the win. Jensen scored all 10 of his points after halftime, with
Keegan Shivers scoring nine points with eight rebounds and Elmore adding nine points and five boards.
McAninch led the Raiders with 18 points and McGarvey scored 13 in the loss, as SOU has dropped four of their last five games.
OIT continues their homestand on Friday, hosting Evergreen State at 7:30 p.m. It is the annual Blackout For Hunger to benefit the Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank. Fans are asked to wear black and bring non-perishable food items – with the first 400 fans to bring a donation receiving a commemorative t-shirt.
