KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – With the 2004 NAIA National Champions in attendance, Oregon Tech rekindled the magic from yesteryear in the final game of the Lithia Classic, draining 15 3-pointers in a 74-62 victory over No. 20 Hope International to complete a weekend tournament sweep at Danny Miles Court.
Mason Bierbrauer hit four triples for the Hustlin' Owls (3-1), part of a 19-point effort, including three 3's in the opening 20 minutes, as Tech took a 32-31 lead to the break.
The Owls sprinted out of the gates after the break, as
Owen Nathan and
Gylan Payne hit triples and
Caleb Bowden splashed down back-to-back long balls, as the 12-2 run gave the hosts a 44-34 lead four minutes into the period.
The Royals (1-3), who defeated OIT twice last season, pulled within 49-43 on an Aman Haynes free throw, but Tech had an answer to every rally.
Trayce Atkins canned a 22-footer, Bowden knocked down his third 3-pointer of the half and Atkins added another, extending the Owls edge to 58-45. Tech pushed the margin to 70-53 with four minutes to go on a Payne lay-up, securing a key early season regional win.
Nathan finished with 13 points and a season-high six assists – as had 17 assists on 24 made field goals. Bowden scored 12 and
Jared Sucher added 10 in the win.
Chinedu Nwankwo led HIU with 18 points, but the Royals committed 17 turnovers on the night, turning into 23 OIT points, with the Owls outscoring the California squad 45-12 from 3-point range.
Tech hits the road for the next month – playing six-straight games away from the Basin – beginning Wednesday night at Simpson.
In the early game, Southern Oregon rallied from a 68-61 deficit with three minutes left to force overtime, with the Raiders outlasting No. 17 The Master's, 82-76, to complete a Cascade Conference sweep of the Classic.
