Cody Crowe scored 13 points in the win on NEON Night. (Photo Credit: Doug Pfeiler)
SALEM, Ore. – While getting points from everyone who entered the game on Friday evening, the Corban University men's basketball team ran past Multnomah in a decisive 99-73 Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) victory.
"I thought we played a very solid defensive game, especially Herzberg and Dozier," said Corban men's basketball head coach Steve Masten. "Those two shut down their leading scorers for much of the game. We also had a nice blend of inside/outside scoring."
Not only did Corban play well defensively while building sizeable lead in the first half and then the second half, but the big lead allowed many players to receive rest late in the game for the Warriors. Corban held the Lions to just a 40.6% shooting effort overall, while offensively, Corban lit it up from all over the court, nailing 58.2% of its shots on the night en route to the 26-point victory.
While the Lions did hit 12 three-pointers on the evening, Corban added eight of its own, and the Warriors dominated in the points-in-the-paint category, winning that battle, 58-30. On the boards, Corban also displayed its power down low with a 46-27 rebounding edge.
On the evening, Warrior senior forward Cyrus Ward (Gig Harbor, Wash.) notched a team-best 20 points with four boards, shooting 10-for-15 from the field. Sophomore guard AJ Monterossi (Beaverton, Ore.) added 18 as well, shooting 8-of-14 overall with five assists.
Four other players reached double-digits for the Navy and Gold, as junior guard Taylor Fox (Astoria, Ore.) and senior forward Cody Crowe (Grants Pass, Ore.) recorded 14 and 13 points, respectively, while freshman forward Joel Johnson (Tigard, Ore.) and junior guard Caleb Herzberg (Beaverton, Ore.) chipped in 10 points each.
Fox was on fire from downtown on the night, nailing a team-best four three-pointers, while Herzberg and Crowe each added two from deep.
Multnomah began the game well, taking the early lead in the game thanks to some hot shooting from beyond the arc, but Corban's inside game, timely threes, and solid overall defense led to the comfortable triumph for the Warriors.
Blake Updike led the way for the Lions (4-13, 1-8 CCC) with 24 points on 7-for-16 shooting and an 8-for-11 effort from the line, while Ben Grandle totaled 20 points, shooting 5-for-11 from deep.
Corban (11-6, 5-4 CCC) returns to the court tomorrow when it hosts Warner Pacific College at 7:30 p.m.