Justin Parnell led the Owls with 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists (photo by Kelly Caleb).
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The No. 3 ranked Hustlin’ Owls used double digit scoring from five players to move to a 99-74 win over the 25th-ranked Evergreen State College tonight in conference action at Danny Miles Court.
Oregon Tech is now 22-4 on the season and 11-3 in the conference standings. Head Coach Dan Miles is two wins away from 900 victories in his career, and with tonight’s win the Hustlin’ Owls have now won 33-straight games at home. The Evergreen State College drops to 16-7 overall and 9-4 in conference play.
A battle ensued from the beginning between Oregon Tech and Evergreen State. After seven lead changes and nine ties, the last at 38-38 with two minutes before half, Oregon Tech finally got some breathing room over the visitors.
Evergreen would move to a 39-38 lead on a Julio Feliciano free throw, but the Owls would quickly retake the lead on a David Clarke 3-pointer. A Justin Parnell trey with 1:13 on the clock gave the home team a 44-39 advantage, and after a defensive stop Oregon Tech’s Myles Daley hit a jumper at the buzzer to cap an 8-0 run that gave the Owls their largest lead of the first period, 46-39, heading to the locker room at the intermission.
Oregon Tech scored the first basket of the second period to lead by nine and would quickly take their first double-digit lead over TESC, 55-43, on a Justin Parnell 3-point field goal with 18 minutes on the clock. Myles Daley gave the Owls their first 20 point advantage, before Evergreen would cut the Owl lead to just 74-61 at the midway point of the second half.
It was as close as the Geoducks would get, however, as the No. 3 ranked Hustlin’ Owls would methodically pull away over the next nine minutes. Tech would lead by as 23 points with three minutes to play and cruise to the same margin of victory by a final of 99-74.
Parnell led the Owls with 20 points and five assists, while tying Kyle Gomez for team-high honors in rebounds with eight. Myles Daley finished with a fine all-around game with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and one block. Joseph Foster hit for 16 points, while Brent Johnson knocked in 12 points and Andy Siverly 11 in the win. Oregon Tech connected on 52.4% shooting on 33-of-63, while connecting on 26-of-30 free throw attempts.
Evergreen rode the backs of Nate Menefee and Julio Feleciano to the tune of 57 combined points for the game, as the rest of the Geoduck offense only came up with 17. Menefee was 13-of-23 from the floor for 29 points, while handing out five assists. Feliciano followed with 28 points, nine rebounds and three assists in the loss. TESC shot 50.0% from the floor on 30-of-60 from the field.
Oregon Tech held a 39-to-27 edge on the boards and handed out 19 assists compared to 10 for Evergreen.
The Owls will go for 34 in a row, and Miles for career win 899 tomorrow versus Northwest University beginning at 7:30 pm. The game can be heard live on 92.5 KLAD -FM in Klamath Falls or anywhere in the world at www.oitsports.com.