LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University Men's Basketball team struggled to shoot the ball as Northwest Christian University held the Mountaineers to 30 percent shooting from the floor. The Beacons shot 52 percent en route to a 76-60 victory over Eastern Oregon on Saturday night at Quinn Coliseum.
Bryan McGriff led the way for the Mountaineers (12-14, 4-12 CCC) with 27 points.
De'Sean Mattox and
Case Rada followed with 11 points apiece to round out the double-figure scorers for EOU.
Austin Kuempter scored a team-high 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting to lead the Beacons (17-9, 10-7 CCC). Jay Mayernik added 17 points on 6-for-10 shooting on the night.
The Mountaineers were off to a fast start on senior night at Quinn, as they held an 8-2 lead over Northwest Christian over the first two and a half minutes of the contest. Rada put EOU ahead by six points after hitting a 3-pointer.
Northwest Christian battled back and ended up tying the game at 18-18 after Kuemper hit a pair of free throws with 10:46 left in the half. After the game was tied, both teams traded buckets. With Northwest Christian ahead, 23-21, the Mountaineers hit back-to-back 3-pointers taking a 27-23 lead.
The Beacons battled back and traded baskets with EOU and McGriff put EOU back on top, 36-35, with 1:24 left in the half. However, EOU did not take the lead into the half as an old fashion three point play by Mayernik put NCU ahead, 38-36 at halftime.
Northwest Christian came out of halftime and, over the first four minutes of the second half, extended their lead to nine points, 49-40. EOU slowly started to chip away and a jumper by
Austin Strock put EOU down 54-48.
The Beacons picked up the defense and held the Mountaineers scoreless for a three minute stretch to take a 64-51 lead. Northwest Christian continued to add to the lead and grew the lead to as many as 20 points, 75-55 late in the second half.
Northwest Christian came away with a 77-60 victory. Northwest Christian held the edge in paint points as they doubled up EOU, 44-22.
EOU returns to action next Friday when they travel to Kirkland, Wash. to face Northwest University. Northwest Christian plays at Corban next Saturday.