Warner Pacific Hands No. 6 OIT Home Loss
KLAMATH FALLS, Oregon (January 19, 2008)---The Warner Pacific men’s basketball team came into Danny Miles Court and left with a win, knocking off No. 6 Oregon Tech 88-84, in front of a crowd of over 2,100 fans. The loss for the Hustlin’ Owls was the first defeat at home this season, dropping Tech to 17-3 overall and 8-2 in the CCC. The win for WP improves their record to 12-7 and 7-3 in CCC play.
The first half saw the Hustlin’ Owls cling to a slim 20-19 advantage, before Warner Pacific would go on a 19-7 run and lead by as many as 11 points with 4:30 remaining in the first half. Oregon Tech would then use 16-6 run of their own to go in the half with the Knights leading by only one at 44-43.
Tech would take their first lead of the second half on a Josh Wetzler lay-up with 18:12 to go and then push the lead to eight points at 60-52 on a Jguwon Hogges jumper at the 14:25 mark. Tech held on to a slim 60-59 advantage and would eventually get another eight point lead with 11:05 left in the game. Warner Pacific chipped away and with just over four minutes in the game, tied the score at 78-78. Warner would then take their first lead in over 15 minutes of play at 80-78, before Tech would tie it at 80-80 with 3:33 to go. The teams would remain tied until the 46 second mark, when a Jalonta Martin floater found the back of the net to go up 82-80. Warner would get a stop and then hit 1 of 2 free throws to go up 83-80. Again, Tech would go empty on the next possession and have to foul to stop the clock. Warner would hit their free throws to go up five, put an end to Tech’s nine game home win streak and win by the final of 88-84.
Ryan Fiegi led the Tech scoring with 24 points while Josh Wetzler added 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Jguwon Hogges finished with 14 points and five rebounds followed by Christian Cavanaugh with 12 points and a team high four assists.
Warner Pacific had four players in double figures, led by Scott O’Gallagher with 25 and Jalonta Martin with 23 points and a game high eight rebounds. Josh Jackson would hit for 22 and Pat Oury with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Tech will look to get back in the win column when they travel to Evergreen State on Friday 1/25 and Northwest on Saturday1/26. Both games tip-off at 7:30 p.m. and can be heard live in the Klamath Basin on KLAD 92.5 FM and worldwide on www.oitsports.com The Danny Miles Coaches show will begin at 7 p.m. with the men’s action to follow.