PRESCOTT, Ariz. –
Owen Nathan scored a career-high 21 points, but it wasn't enough for Oregon Tech, as Embry-Riddle broke a late tie with a 6-0 run inside the final two minutes, as the Eagles outlasted the Hustlin' Owls, 76-73, in the title game of the ERAU Halloween Classic.
OIT (1-1) tied the game at 68-68 on a
Caleb Bowden dunk with two minutes left, but Jacey Canalin converted a tough runner in the lane to give ERAU the lead. After Tech missed a pair of go-ahead 3-pointers, Noah Gifft converted two free throws and after a turnover Canalin scored on a lay-up to make it 74-68 with 30 seconds remaining.
The Owls made it interesting, as a 3-point play from Nathan cut the margin to 76-73 with six seconds left and following an offensive foul,
Mason Bierbrauer had an open look from 3-point range to tie the score, but his 22-footer rimmed out at the horn.
A tight contest throughout, the game was tied eight times, with neither team leading by more than six points.
Gifft led the Eagles (3-1) with 21 points and Canalin added 15, as ERAU made 7-of-15 3-point attempts – including a buzzer-beater from Lex Klontz to end the first half and a shot clock expiring triple from Christian Wells that gave the hosts a 66-64 lead in the second half.
Gylan Payne scored 16 points with seven rebounds, Bowden had 11 points and
Kyle Bittle recorded career-highs with eight points and seven boards. Tech committed just seven turnovers, but converted just 3-of-21 3-point attempts.
OIT returns home next weekend, hosting the Lithia Classic, welcoming Southern Oregon, Hope International and The Master's to the Basin for games Friday and Saturday.
