LA GRANDE, Ore. –
Bryan McGriff led the Eastern Oregon University men's basketball team with 29 points on 10-of-16 shooting but it proved to be not enough as the hot shooting Knights of Warner Pacific College defeated EOU, 82-60.
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Following McGriff was
De'Sean Mattox and
Case Rada with seven points, each. EOU (9-6, 2-4 CCC) shot 39 percent (22-of-56) on the night and were 5-for-23 from behind the arc.
The Knights (13-4, 3-2 CCC) were led by Doug Thomas' 19 points, on 8-of-11 shooting. Earl Jones and Coletun Tarr followed with 16 points to round out the double-figure scorers for Warner Pacific. Warner Pacific shot 56 percent (26-of-46) from the field, in the win.
Over the first three minutes of the contest, EOU and Warner Pacific went back and forth trading baskets and after a Michael Hall basket, for the Knights, the game was tied for the third time. Jones broke the tie 30 seconds later putting Warner Pacific ahead, 8-6.
After taking the lead at, 8-6, the Knights led until there was 7:35 left in the half and a McGriff fast break layup gave EOU the lead at 18-17. EOU extended the lead to five points, multiple times in the half but Warner Pacific scored six of the last eight points of the half, tying the game at 32-32, at halftime.
The Knights opened up the second half by scoring the first 10 points of the half, taking a 42-32 lead over EOU. The Mountaineers started to chip away at the lead, and cut the lead to nine points, 46-37, after an old fashion three-point play by McGriff.
The Mountaineers continued to chip away at Knights lead and after a Mattox three pointer, with 13:10 left in the game, EOU trailed by six points, 48-42. After the three, Warner Pacific scored the next nine points, increasing their lead to 15 points, 57-42.
Warner Pacific increased the lead to as many as 24 points in the second half. Warner Pacific defeated EOU, 82-60.
EOU returns to action on Friday Jan. 9 when they travel to Caldwell, Idaho to face College of Idaho. Warner Pacific returns to action on Jan. 9 when they host Corban.