Big First Half Lifts Knights Over EOU
PORTLAND, Ore. – A dominating first half of play from Warner Pacific was enough to send the Knights past Eastern Oregon, 76-59, tonight in Cascade Conference play inside C.C. Perry Gym.
The Basics
• Score: Warner Pacific 76, Eastern Oregon 59
• Records: WPC (18-5, 8-3 CCC), EOU (12-10-5, 4-8 CCC)
• Location: C.C. Perry Gym, Portland, Ore.
• The Short Story: Warner Pacific built a 17 point advantage during the first half of play, then held off a rally from Eastern Oregon in the second to earn an important home victory. The Knights found plenty of open looks at the basket on the way to a 40-23 lead at the break, while holding the Mountaineers to 27% shooting. Eastern tried to make it a game in the second period, and eventually cut the WP lead down to eight points (58-50). Coletun Tarr made sure the Knights maintained the lead with a trio of makes behind the arc, and Earl Jones cut to the rim for several key buckets down the stretch. Bryan McGriff did his best to pace EOU by pouring in a game high 28 points, but his teammates went a combined 9 of 41 for the game.
How it Happened
• The Knights jumped out to a lead quickly and after Ryan Parks hit the first of his three field goals from distance, WP led 17-8.
• Laron Daniels gave Warner Pacific a boost with a twisting fast break score, then a few moments later soared for a dunk to energize the crowd.
• Keeping up the pressure toward the end of the half, Earl Jones scored eight straight points to give the Knights their largest lead of the game with 3:50 remaining (35-17).
• The third three pointer from Parks came at the halftime buzzer, sending WPC into the locker room with a 40-23 lead.
• The game looked to be a blowout as the action unfolded in the second half, as WP ran out to their largest lead of 21 points after a Michael Hall tip-in.
• EOU had other ideas and slowly fought back into contention behind improved defending and interior scoring from McGriff.
• Deonta Edwards converted an old fashioned three-point play to make the score 58-50 with 9:29 to play, but the Mounties could draw no closer.
• WP recovered enough to push the lead back up to 16 points and sealed the game after a bucket and two free throws from Josh Black.