Tech Topples Cavs in Final Seconds

2/21/2014 8:38:00 PM

Concordia 64, Oregon Tech 68?? Stats Comparison CU OIT Points 64 68 Rebounds 43 39 Assists 10 15 Fouls 18 21 Shooting % 36.1% 39.0% 3-point % 7.1% 21.2% Free Throw % 70.4% 75.0% CU Leaders OIT Herman 19 Points 12 Manselle Middleton 12 Rebounds 12 Johnson 4 players 2 Assists 5 Schramm Holton 1 Blocks 1 3 players Matthews 2 Steals 4 Bautista

PORTLAND, Ore. – After giving up a 16-point lead late in the second half, Oregon Tech held on to defeat Concordia 68-64 on Friday night inside the Cavalier Gymnasium.

Six of Oregon Tech's (16-13, 9-8 CCC) eight players that saw the court scored at least eight points with Tanner Manselle leading the team with 12 points, half of which came beyond the 3-point line.

Hitting 11 of 12 from the free throw line, Adam Herman (Vancouver, Wash./Prairie H.S.) paced Concordia (21-8, 10-7 CCC) with 19 points.

With both teams looking to improve their conference standings in the final weekend, Oregon Tech remained in contention for a top-four seed as the Owls ended the day in a three-way tie for fifth place in the CCC with one game remaining.

The Owls will remain in Portland to play Warner Pacific on Saturday while Concordia will host Southern Oregon for Senior Night.

With the loss, Concordia will enter the final day of the regular season tied for third in the league standings with Northwest University.

With Manselle collected 10 first-half points, OIT built a 12-point lead at the half. The visiting side added four more to its advantage in the second half, going up 55-39 as Brandon Bautista finished on the fast break after intercepting an errant CU pass at the 10:25 mark.

After cutting the deficit to 10 (59-49) with 7:57 left, Concordia continuing its streak over the next three minutes with an 8-0 run capped by a pair of free throw makes by Herman.

Herman went on to tie the score at 61-61 with two more free throws with just over a minute to go.

With 19 seconds on the clock, Tech's Derek Evans connected on back-to-back free throws of his own to give OIT a 65-61 advantage which was immediately dismantled by a fast-release 3-pointer by Willy Ligon (Corona, Calif./Centennial H.S.). After two more free throws by OIT, this time by Austen Flint, made it a three-point contest once again.

Looking to play its third overtime game in the last week, the Cavs' comeback effort fell short as a game-tying three by Marquis Matthews (Spanaway, Wash./Bethel H.S.) managed to hit iron but caromed away and into OIT's Josh Johnson hands for his 12th rebound of the game.

In addition to his game-high 19 points, Herman added 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.

Esvan Middleton (Culver City, Calif./Culver City H.S.), who fouled out in the final seconds of the game, also had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.