KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Keegan Shivers scored a season-high 26 points with a career-best 17 rebounds, leading Oregon Tech to a key 74-66 victory over No. 21-ranked Lewis-Clark State before 1,969 fans at Danny Miles Court.
 
The Hustlin' Owls (14-3, 10-1 CCC) won for the ninth-straight time – setting up a first-place match-up vs. No. 5-ranked College of Idaho on Friday night to start the second half of the league season.
 
"We set the tone from the opening tip," said OIT head coach Justin Parnell. "We crashed the boards and played physical at both ends against a very good basketball team. I am proud of the effort our team had tonight."
 
Tech scored on their first four possessions – getting two put-back lay-ups from Blake Jensen, a tip-in from Shivers and a fastbreak dunk from Kam Osborn – in an 8-0 flurry in the first two minutes. Shivers continued the run, canning a long 3-pointer and muscling up for a tough 3-point play to push the Owls lead to 24-10.
 
LC (13-5, 8-4) made a first half run, thanks to a Jayceon Smith triple and jumper, part of a 9-0 run, getting the visitors within 32-24. The Warriors held OIT without a made field goal over the first five minutes of the second half, with an Alton Hamilton turn-around jumper cutting the lead to 45-38.
 
Osborn ended the drought with a long contested 3-pointer and Jackson Cooper converted on the block on back-to-back possessions, helping the hosts regain a 54-41 lead. The Owls kept the momentum, as Shivers scored on a second-chance lay-up, giving the club their largest lead of the night at 66-48 – with Tech easing to their first win of the year against a nationally-ranked foe.
 
Shivers became the first Hustlin' Owl since 2021 (Garret Albrecht) to record a 25-15 game, finishing the night 9-of-15 from the field.
 
Jamison Guerra scored 14, Osborn had 13, with Jensen recording 12. Cooper had six points and seven rebounds, with Erik Fraser pulling down eight boards. OIT finished the night with a 46-35 edge on the glass, including 16 offensive rebounds turned into 19 second-chance points.
 
Macarhy Morris scored 14 points and Hamilton logged 13 points and 16 rebounds for the Warriors, who have lost four of their last seven games after a 10-1 start. LC finished the night 5-of-22 from 3-point range.
 
Parnell said he looks for a partisan homecourt advantage on Friday, as the Owls look to avenge a December loss to C of I.
 
"We have the best fans in the NAIA. It has been 12 years since we sold out Danny Miles Court and I'd love to have a sellout crowd help us on Friday night."