GLENDALE, Ariz. – The young Oregon Tech men's basketball team came of age at the ACU Events Center, getting huge production in overtime from their underclassmen in a 94-90 upset win over No. 9 The Master's at the Fultz Memorial Classic.
 
Sophomore Jared Sucher scored a career-high 19 points, including 11 points in the final three minutes and overtime for the Hustlin' Owls (2-0), while freshman Gylan Payne scored 15, knocking down four 3-pointers – including a huge triple in the extra session.
 
"I am so proud of these guys," said OIT head coach Justin Parnell. "With so many guys fouling out, players were in unfamiliar positions, but we made the plays when we needed to. This was a big win."
 
After the Mustangs (3-2) rallied late in regulation to force the extra session, Payne canned a 3-pointer to open the period, with senior Grant Tull converting a tough 3-point play and a driving lay-up to give Tech an 87-81 lead before fouling out. Sucher did the rest, while the Owls got defensive stops, the sophomore made 5-of-6 free throws to close out the victory.
 
Leading 37-35 at the break, junior Jackson Cooper and senior Dakota Reber took over for OIT, as Cooper fed Reber for a lob dunk, with Cooper following with a massive 2-hand slam, part of a 7-0 run that gave the Owls their largest lead of the night at 62-52.
 
However, both players fouled out in the second half, allowing the Mustangs to rally – as Nate Boakye scored eight points in a 14-3 run that gave the California team a 66-65 lead.
 
Sucher answered with two free throws to give OIT the lead, adding a fade away jumper and a 3-point play to give the Owls a 79-73 lead with two minutes left. However, Boakye scored the final six points of the period to tie the score, with his 30-foot shot at the horn missing – sending the game to overtime.
 
Cooper had 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists, with Reber scoring 16 in the win for Tech – as the Owls made 50% of their field goals after halftime, including 5-of-9 3's. Freshman Kaden Groenig scored eight, Tull added seven, with sophomore Sean Chris Tresvant posting three points, five rebounds and two steals.
 
Quincy Phillips scored 28 points and Boakye added 19, but the Mustangs were outrebounded 46-36, with Tech holding TMU to 1-of-5 shooting in overtime.
 
The Owls close out tournament play tomorrow, meeting host and No. 2-ranked Arizona Christian, at 3 p.m.