David Clarke scored all eight of his points in a 10-0 Oregon Tech first half run. The Owls advanced to the second round for the tenth-straight year with a 58-49 win.
Oregon Tech Outlasts Lourdes University, Moves to Second Round
POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – No. 2 ranked Oregon Tech took an eight point lead into the half and held off Lourdes University in the second period, as the Hustlin’ Owls moved to the second round of the 2012 NAIA national championship with a 58-49 victory over the Gray Wolves this afternoon.
Oregon Tech, earning their tenth opening round win in a row, moves to 30-4 overall, while Lourdes University finishes the season at 17-16. It is the third-straight season the Owls have recorded 30 or more wins and a ninth time overall.
Oregon Tech advances to the “Sweet 16” and will play Warner University, a winner over Indiana East 84-68, Friday at 11:45 am PST.
Kyle Gomez and Bobby Hunter, playing in foul trouble the entire game, led the Owl offense with 10 points each. Gomez recorded five rebounds and Hunter a game-high four assists. Jason Gamblin added nine points, including seven in the first half, to go with six rebounds, while Scotty Riddle scored nine points and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds in the win.
Lourdes was first to score, but Scotty Riddle answered with a 3-pointer and Jason Gamblin a 15-footer to put the Owls up 5-2. Oregon Tech would never trail, but Lourdes would tie the game at 8-8 with 12:27 to play in the opening period.
Leading by just two points with 3:14 in the first half, David Clarke got hot for the Owls hitting a runner in the lane and came back down with a 3-pointer on the next possession. Gamblin followed with another short jumper with a long Clarke triple putting Tech up 29-17 with just over a minute remaining in the opening period. Lourdes would score the final four points of the first half, as the Owls took a 29-21 advantage into the intermission.
Gamblin opened up the second half scoring with a basket to give the Owls a double digit lead.
Lourdes would trail by seven points on two occasions, the last at the midway point of the second half, 46-39.
After leading by nine points, back-to-back Bryant Sentman jumpers put Tech up by 13 points, 54-41, with 6:01 remaining in the contest. Oregon Tech would hold on to a double digit for the remainder of the game before Lourdes scored the final basket of the game, as the Owls would secure a 58-49 victory.
After shooting just 37.5% from the floor in the first half, Oregon Tech finished 41.8% overall (23-of-55), including seven field goals from long range. Lourdes finished 43.8% shooting, but connected on just 1-of-11 from the 3-point line. Oregon Tech held a 32-27 advantage on the boards with LU finishing 6-for-15 at the charity stripe and Tech 5-for-9.