via Oregon Tech Athletic Communications
HELENA, Mont. – Jackson Cooper scored a career-high 26 points leading No. 16-ranked Oregon Tech to a 90-77 victory over the University of Providence in the opening game of the Comfort Suites Classic inside the Carroll PE Center.
The sophomore connected on 12-of-15 shot attempts and added nine rebounds, as the Hustlin’ Owls (1-0) won for the first time ever in the Treasure State.
“I am extremely happy for Coop,” said OIT head coach Justin Parnell. “He put in a ton of work during the off-season, and it is paying off.”
OIT used a pair of big first half runs to build a commanding halftime lead. Trailing 4-2 in the early going, Erik Fraser and Jamison Guerra drained consecutive 3-pointers and Blake Jensen followed with an inside basket, part of a 13-4 run to give the Owls a 15-8 lead. Cooper capped a 14-4 run midway through the half with back-to-back buckets, extending the margin to 29-15. Fraser capped the half with a 3-point play, pushing the lead to 49-31.
Tech pushed the advantage to 61-41 with 14 minutes to play on a Keegan Shivers jumper, but the Argos (0-1) cut the deficit to 68-58 on a triple from Jamil Bowles triple with less than 10 minutes left.
The Owls turned to their defense, holding UP without a made field goal for a four-minute stretch, with Cooper scoring six points in the 8-0 run that put the game away.
Both teams shot well from the field – Tech converting 55-percent of their field goal chances, with UP making 51-percent. Rebounding was the key, as the Owls held a 35-23 edge on the glass – including nine offensive boards, with OIT committing just five turnovers.
“I loved how we got out in transition and ran the lanes,” Parnell said. Bowles is a really good player and he hurt us, but we rebounded well and played with a ton of energy. Great opening win.”
Fraser posted 19 points in the victory, with Guerra adding 16 points and eight assists. Shivers logged a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, with Dakota Reber scoring all seven of his points in the second half.
Bowles led the Argos with a game-high 31 points.
On Saturday, Isaiah Crane scored 22 points, including go-ahead free throws in the final minute, helping Carroll College top Oregon Tech, 83-78, in the title game of the Comfort Suites Classic.
The Fighting Saints (2-0) held a 78-74 lead inside the final three minutes, but Jamison Guerra converted an inside basket and Blake Jensen knocked down a pair of free throws to tie the score.
Crane split two free throws to give the hosts a 79-78 lead with 43 seconds remaining, but the Hustlin’ Owls (1-1) could not convert a pair of chances to tie or take the lead. Jensen missed consecutive free throws with 20 seconds left and following two Crane freebies, a Guerra 3-pointer rimmed out – giving Carroll the win.
The Saints controlled the early moments of the game, getting a James Lang triple to take a 14-9 lead, but Jensen took over for the Owls, scoring seven-straight points, including a dunk, as OIT grabbed a 23-18 edge. Dakota Reber followed with a 3-pointer, giving the visitors their largest lead of the night at 31-24.
Carroll fought back to tie the game at 41-41 at the half, with the two teams combining for 10 lead changes in the second half.
Jensen scored 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field, with Reber and Kam Osborn each finishing with 14. Guerra recorded 10 points and five assists, with Jackson Cooper scoring eight points and a team-best eight rebounds. OIT made 49-percent of their field goals in the loss and held a 33-29 rebound edge.
Lang scored 18 for the Saints, with Derek Kramer recording a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Tech opens the home schedule next Saturday night, hosting Cal Maritime at 7:30 p.m. – live on 92.5 KLAD-FM.
