BOX SCORE
LA GRANDE, Ore. – Travares Peterson’s lay-in with 0.4 seconds gave the No. 14 Eastern Oregon University men’s basketball team a 66-65 thrilling win over Northwest Christian Saturday.
The Mountaineers (21-6) (12-4) clinched a home postseason game with the victory. EOU will host at least a Cascade Collegiate Conference tournament quarterfinal game on Wednesday, Feb. 23. Eastern also owns the current longest win streak in the conference at five in a row.
The Beacons were poised for the upset leading for much of the game, including a 41-27 lead with 41 seconds left in the first half. Eastern Oregon’s only lead of the first half was a 2-0 advantage to begin the game. A pair of Peterson free throws with 13:38 remaining in regulation was the next EOU lead.
Northwest Christian missed its first 16 shots from the field to begin the second half after it shot 53 percent from the field in the first half. Eastern went on a 20-0 run to begin the second half, and held NCU scoreless until Brent McKee tipped in a miss with 10:49 left in the game. The Beacons responded to the EOU run with an 8-0 run to take the lead back.
With 34 seconds remaining, Cameron Marshall hit a jumper to give Northwest Christian a 65- 63 lead. Eastern went 1-for-2 at the line on their next possession to climb within one. The Beacons found themselves with the ball after an EOU missed shot ran out of bounds with five seconds to play.
Quentin Guidry was fouled as Northwest Christian in-bounded the ball. Unfortunately, both free-throw attempts, which could have extended the NCU lead to three points, were off the mark with Peterson grabbing the rebound on the second miss. Peterson turned up court and raced toward the basket and completed the coast-to-coast play with a lay-up.
Peterson led Eastern with 16 points and eight rebounds. The junior shot 6 for 11 from the field. JC Cook contributed 15 points and Jason Mumm added 12 points and eight rebounds. EOU finished 36 percent from the field and 14 of 24 from the free-throw line. The leading three-point shooting team in NAIA Div. 2 was held to 6 for 26 from behind the arc.
The Mountaineers had a 48 to 39 rebound advantage over NCU. Eastern Oregon committed 13 turnovers to the Beacons’ 11. Northwest Christian also had a 22 to 12 assist advantage.
The Beacons (8-21) (2-15) were led by Marshall’s 15 points. Guidry added 14 points. Kellen Spicer grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and Jordan Myers threw seven assists. NCU shot 40 percent in the game from the field, 8 of 23 from behind the arc, and 7 of 13 from the free-throw line.
The last three meetings between Eastern and Northwest Christian have been decided by a combined six points, all in the Mountaineers’ favor. EOU moved to 11-0 this season when opponents score 70 points or less. Eastern Oregon is 63-7 in the last 70 games inside Quinn Coliseum.
Next Friday, No. 14 Eastern travels to No. 15 Northwest University. The Eagles (19-6) (11-5) fell in overtime at Warner Pacific College, 68-66. The loss snapped a seven-game win streak. Next Friday’s game will feature a live video stream, and live stats.