Knights Grind Out Key CCC Win Over SOU
BOX SCORE
PORTLAND, Ore. – Warner Pacific came out with a hard fought 65-61 win tonight over Southern Oregon, to avenge an earlier season loss to the Raiders and move into first place in the CCC standings.
Coupled with Oregon Tech’s loss at Concordia, the Knights sit alone atop the Cascade Conference standings at 10-1.
The host Knights sprinted out to a 10-1 lead in the opening minutes, holding SOU without a field goal aver the first six minutes of the game. The visiting raiders stormed back behind a trio of three point makes – two from Sam Osofsky – to take a 12-10 lead. Warner Pacific would respond, and slowly built an advantage that reached as many as 11 (35-24) thanks to interior play from Stephen Harris who scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds before halftime. The Raiders closed the half on a 6-0 however, capped by another Osofsky trey as the buzzer sounded.
Warner Pacific led the entire twenty minutes of the second period, and pushed their advantage to as many as nine (58-49) after a three point goal from William Sharp with 3:42 to play. SOU made one final surge, making a 8-2 run to climb with three (60-57) thanks to a Jordan Highland three pointer. On the next possession, Doug Thomas replied with a trifecta of his own to push the Knight lead back out to six with 30 seconds to play and WP held on for the crucial conference victory.
Harris finished with 16 points and 19 rebounds to lead the Knights. Sharp and Sean Gaines added 15 points each, and Sharp threw for six assists.
SOU was led by Highland game high 22 points and 10 rebounds. Osofsky contributed 12 points, all coming from the three point line.
Warner Pacific improves to 18-4 overall, and the aforementioned 10-1 in the CCC. Southern Oregon drops to 14-9 and 7-5.
The Knights host NAIA #1 ranked Oregon Tech tomorrow night in a clash of top 10 teams at Bart Valentine Court. SOU travels across Portland to face Concordia.