Lavar Moore scored a game-high 20 points but Concordia prevailed in 71-69 win at Danny Miles Court. (photo by Kelly Caleb)
Oregon Tech Comeback Bid Over No. 11 Concordia Falls Short
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – No. 11 Concordia University held off a furious Oregon Tech comeback bid and held on for a 71-69 Cascade Collegiate Conference men’s basketball thriller tonight at Danny Miles Court.
Oregon Tech falls to 6-11 in CCC action and 13-14 overall. Concordia improved their overall mark to 23-5 and 13-4 in conference play.
Oregon Tech held a trio of seven point leads in the first period, the last at 23-16 on a Josh Johnson score with 7:14 on the clock.
Concordia used a 7-0 run tying the game on a Thomas Pierce jumper at 23-all. Two more ties ensued, the last at 31-31 before the Cavaliers’ Zach Geary connected from long range with seconds remaining to send the visitors to the half leading 34-31.
Concordia controlled the first nine minutes of the second half, leading by as many as 13 points, 56-43, on a pair of Pierce free throws with 11 minutes remaining.
A pair of Lavar Moore free throws brought the Owls back to life, and when a Kyle Waits layup, off a Josh Johnson assist, capped a 16-2 run for the home team, Tech led 59-58 with 6:49 to play.
The game remained tight over the next six minutes with Tech and CU tied 67-all with just 35 seconds on the clock.
Tech’s defense nearly caused a Cav turnover, but after a mad scramble Evsan Middleton came up with the ball and was intentionally fouled going to the basket. Middleton made both his free throws with CU maintaining possession.
Middleton knocked down two more free throws after being fouled on the inbound to put CU up 71-67.
Austen Flint converted on a driving layup to close the deficit to 71-69 and when CU failed on both their freebies the Owls had a chance to tie or go ahead on their next possession.
Tech’s last shot, however, rimmed out and with under two seconds had to foul. CU missed again, and the Owls’ desperation 70 foot try never came close with the Cavaliers leaving 71-69 winners.
Lavar Moore netted a game-best 20 points with Josh Johnson finishing with 16 points and eight rebounds in the loss for the Owls. Kyle Waits added nine points.
Esvan Middleton led four CU players in double-figures with 18 points, followed by Tyler Velasquez with 14 points and five assists. Zach Geary netted 12 and Thomas Pierce 11 points and six rebounds in the win.
Oregon Tech will host Warner Pacific College in the last regular season game at Danny Miles Court Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Concordia travels to Ashland to take on Southern Oregon University in a battle of Top 25 teams.