Alex Zerbach finished with a career-high 12 points in win over Bethany University in day 1 of the Midland Empire Liberty Northwest Safeco Insurance Classic. (photo by Kelly Caleb)
Owls Start Slow, Finish Strong in 89-42 Win Over Bethany
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Joseph Foster notched a game-high 15 points and 12 Owls finished in the scoring column, as No. 11 Oregon Tech ran past Bethany University by the final of 89-42 in game 2 of the Midland Empire Liberty Northwest Safeco Insurance Classic tonight at Danny Miles Court.
The Owls improve to 6-1 with the win, while Bethany drops to 1-6 overall.
The team's started slow as both the Owls and Bruins were tied at 5-5 six minutes into the contest. Scotty Riddle came off the bench to spark Oregon Tech with six points, in a three minute span, to boost the Owls to a seven point lead, 16-9, with just over nine minutes to play in the first period. The Owls would eventually double up the Bruins, taking a 36-18 lead into the locker room.
At the 10 minute mark of the second period, the Owls once again doubled the Bruin output, this time at 58-29. It was all Owls the final 10 minutes, as Oregon Tech would methodically pull away to win by a 47 point margin, 89-42.
Foster tallied three assists and three rebounds to go with his game-high 15. Alex Zerbach came off the bench and finished with a career-high 12 points, while Andy Siverly knocked in 10 points, grabbed four rebounds and handed out three assists. Mike Nieraeth, Justin Parnell, Myles Daley, Kyle Gomez and Scotty Riddle all finished with eight points. Parnell ended the evening with a game-high 13 boards and Nieraeth a game-high four assists in the win.
Two Bruins ended the night in double-digits, led by a team-high 12 from Jason Maples and 10 from Ron Houston.
Bethany plays Southern Oregon University tomorrow beginning at 5:30 PM, with host Oregon Tech taking on Pacific Union College at 7:30 PM.