via Oregon Tech Athletic Communications
Oregon Tech 85, Eastern Oregon 81
LA GRANDE, Ore. – Jay Elmore hit four second half 3-pointers, including a go-ahead triple with 28 seconds left, as Oregon Tech rallied from a 14-point second half deficit to stun Eastern Oregon, 85-81, at Quinn Coliseum.
The Hustlin’ Owls (5-2, 1-0 CCC) closed the game on a 17-4 run over the final five-plus minutes – getting three huge defensive stops inside the final minute to close out the win.
Eastern (4-2, 0-1) was seemingly in control midway through the second half – erasing a 35-32 OIT lead late in the opening period by scoring the final seven points – while riding 10-straight Garrett Hawkes points in a run that gave the hosts a 70-56 lead with 10 minutes remaining.
Elmore willed Tech back in the game, hitting a trio of triples, the last getting the Owls within 77-73 with three minutes to play. Following an EOU miss, Kam Osborn pulled OIT within 77-75 with a 10-foot jumper. After the teams traded baskets, Elmore grabbed a huge defensive rebound off a Jaden Hansen jumper and was rewarded at the other end – canning a 24-footer while being fouled, giving the Owls their first lead of the second half.
The 4-point play gave the visitors a 83-81 lead – with defense sealing the win, as Osborn secured a rebound off a game-tying attempt from Hansen – connecting on two free throws to put the game out of reach.
Osborn led Tech with 19 points, with Elmore scoring a season-high 16 points off the bench. Keegan Shivers scored 15 before fouling out midway through the second half, with Jackson Cooper posting 11 points and eight rebounds.
Hawkes had 21 points to lead EOU, who lost despite making 51-percent of their field goals.
College of Idaho 74, Oregon Tech 66
CALDWELL, Idaho – Jamison Guerra scored a season-high 21 points and Oregon Tech hit a season-best 11 3-pointers, but it wasn’t enough to topple No. 4-ranked College of Idaho, as the Yotes made key defensive stops inside the final two minutes to stop the Hustlin’ Owls, 74-66, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
OIT (5-3, 1-1 CCC) cut a late 70-62 lead down to 70-66 on consecutive Jackson Cooper baskets with two minutes left and recorded consecutive defensive stops. However, open 3-pointers from Erik Fraser and Kam Osborn rimmed out, as did a Guerra chance – with C of I sealing the win at the foul line.
The Owls got early triples from Guerra and Fraser, staking themselves to a 14-7 lead in the first six minutes, before the Coyotes (7-1, 2-0) rallied to take a 23-22 lead on three Dougie Peoples free throws. Tech answered back, as Guerra canned a trey, followed by a 25-footer from Keegan Shivers and a corner 3-ball from Fraser, pushing the margin to 31-25.
Tech held a 51-48 lead with 14 minutes left in the contest, but C of I had an answer – as Peoples connected from distance, followed by a corner jumper from Johnny Radford – part of an 11-3 run to give the hosts a 64-56 lead, setting up the finish.
Guerra made 4-of-6 3-pointers in the loss, adding six rebounds and four assists, with Osborn posting 14 points and Cooper adding 11 off the bench. OIT ended the night 11-of-26 from 3-point range, but converted just 7-of-16 free throw chances.
Drew Wyman led the Yotes with 15 points and nine rebounds – as C of I scored 14 key second-chance points. Peoples scored 13, with Radford posting 12.
Tech returns home on Saturday night, hosting rival Southern Oregon at 7:30 p.m. for the annual Military Appreciation Night, presented by Winema Electric. All current or retired military personnel and their families will be admitted free with a valid ID.
