Eastern Needs Overtime to Defeat Cascade
BOX SCORE
PORTLAND, Ore. - Neil Fryer poured in 41 points to lead Eastern Oregon past Cascade 105-101 in in exciting overtime action at the Thunderdome tonight.
The T-Birds fall to 11-9 overall and 4-8 in CCC play, while EOU improves to 15-5 and 8-4.
Kao Saelee came off the bench and provided a spark (8 points 2 assists) for Cascade after spotting the visiting Mountaineers an early 22-12 lead. A Jason McCall trey closed the gap to 26-23, but Eastern would respond thanks to the prolific scoring of Fryer and led 44-34 at the half.
The hosts were looking for the upset in the second period, and steadily chipped away at the deficit until an Erving Adams layup gave Cascade their first lead (75-74) of the game at the 5:25 mark.
A Saelee jumper gave the T-Birds a six point lead with 3:19 to lay, but the Mounties came right back with back to back three pointers from Kris Groce and Jeremy Templeton. Down by two, EOU had the final possesion in regulation and tied the ball game with a Jordan Gregg tip-in with :02 to play. The T-Birds could not get a final shot off and the teams headed to overtime.
Fryer continued his career performance in the extra period, draining two treys in consecutive possesions to give EOU an 8 point lead in OT. Cascade's Ben Pawlak proceeded to match with back to back three pointers of his own, but EOU's Templeton kept the T-Birds at arms length by hitting 6 for 6 at the free throw line and secure the win.
"The crowd was treated to a classic tonight," said Cascade head coach Anthony Baugher. "I just wish we could have capitalized on this opportunity. Fryer was a tough cover tonight. We just lost him way too often defensively, and he made us pay."
In addition to Fryer's game high 41, four other Mountaineers were in double figures, including Kris Groce with 17. Templeton had 10 assists.
Pawlak dropped in 26 to lead Cascade, while Saelee finished with a season high 17 points and 8 assists. Erving Adams notched his 6th double-double of the year with 15 points and 11 rebounds.