KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Jared Sucher led three Oregon Tech players in double-figures with 14 points and seven rebounds, leading the Hustlin' Owls to their 24th-straight home opening win, a 75-62 victory over No. 14-ranked Southern Oregon at Danny Miles Court.
 
OIT (1-0) has posted wins in their home opener every season since 2001, forcing 20 Southern turnovers – turning the miscues into 24 points.
 
The Raiders (0-1), fresh off a trip to the NAIA quarterfinals, cut an OIT lead to 44-42 five minutes into the second half – but Tech answered with a game-changing 15-2 run. Dakota Reber splashed a 3-pointer, Kaden Groenig hit a trey and followed with a 3-point play, with Grant Tull converting a pair of inside buckets in the flurry. The lead grew to 70-52 following a driving Sucher lay-up with six minutes left, with the Owls keeping the lead in double-figures the rest of the way.
 
Playing in front of over 1,300 fans – the two teams opened the night on runs. The Hustlin' Owls got triples from Reber and Tull in a 10-0 run to take a 12-8 lead, while Gio Evanson hit a 3-pointer to start a 12-2 SOU run to give the visitors their biggest lead of the night at 20-14. OIT regained control late in the period, with Groenig splashing a 3-pointer just before the break, giving the Owls a 36-30 halftime lead.  
 
Reber had 12 points, with Groenig adding 12 points in his first career start. Jackson Cooper had nine points and five rebounds, with Tull posting seven.
 
Elijah Jackson led all players with 29 points – the lone SOU player in double-figures. Tech limited the Raiders to 38% shooting on the night.
 
Tech closes out the weekend tomorrow night, hosting the Seattle Mountaineers in an exhibition game at 5:30 p.m.