Northwest Posts Upset Win over Eastern Oregon
LA GRANDE, Ore. -- Northwest University defeated their second nationally ranked team this season as they pulled off a 78-75 upset over #3 Eastern Oregon in Quinn Coliseum Saturday night.
EOU was undefeated in Cascade Conference play and ranked third in the latest NAIA national poll coming into the game. After three early ties, the Eagles jumped out to a 14-6 lead with 14:16 to go in the first half as NU guard, Chase Van Cleave dropped in 5 consecutive points off a 3-pointer and a jumper. The Mountaineers would battle back and Jeremy Templeton’s lay-up off a Mark Carollo pass would bring EOU within 2 points at 18-16 with 9:52 remaining in the half. After Mark Carollo’s free throw to tie the game at 22, Van Cleave would hit another trey off a Lucas Ashe assist to put the Eagles ahead 25-22 with 5:49 to go and Pat Mattson’s jumper with 32 seconds left in the first stanza would give NU the lead at halftime, 32-27. NU would hold EOU to 12.5% shooting from the three point line in the half and 43% shooting from 2-point range as they shot 40% from the floor and 25% from the 3-point arc.
The second half would see Northwest U. leading the entire way and junior Derek Miller’s 3-pointer would give the Eagles a 51-41 lead with 14:03 left in the game, but the Mounties would go on a 9-4 run to pull within four, 54-50 at the 10:15 mark. Two free throws by Eddie Coulson would give NU its largest lead, 64-52, with 7:01 left in the contest. The lead would prove valuable as EOU’s pressure would whittle the lead down to two, 70-68, with 1:06 to go with a Mark Carollo steal and dunk , but the Eagles would go 10 for 12 from the free throw line, including a perfect 6 for 6 the final 22 seconds, to seal the upset victory.
Northwest U. (10-8, 6-3 CCC) was led by Pat Mattson (Sr., Everett, WA) with 20 points and 6 rebounds. Chase Van Cleave (Jr., Puyallup, WA) would add another 17 points including 50% shooting from 3-point range (4 for 8) and 5 assists while 6’9, freshman post, Greg George (Seattle, WA) scored a double-double on the night with a 17 points, 10 rebound performance. The Eagles would shoot 87% from the free throw line going 23 for 28 on the night. NU turned the ball over 14 times to EOU’s 16 turnovers.
Eastern Oregon (13-2, 6-1 CCC) got a 16 point, 5 assist performance from Paul Carollo and brother Mark Carollo, coming off a 43 point performance the night before, scored a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Mounties. Guard Jeremy Templeton contributed 12 points and 5 assists. EOU won the battle of the boards with a 40-36 rebounding margin including 12 offensive rebounds. Eastern Oregon shot 46% on the night from 2-point range and 31.3% from the 3-point line. The Mounties managed 53% shooting from the charity stripe.
Northwest U. travels to Eugene, Oregon next Saturday to take on the Cascade Conference's newest member, Northwest Christian while EOU plays rival The College of Idaho in LaGrande in a make-up game on Tuesday that was re-scheduled due to weather last week.