Beard's Career High in Rebounds Leads Owls Past Geoducks
Klamath Falls, Ore. – The Hustlin’ Owls send the Geoducks packing after a late push to come away victorious. The close matchup saw 9 lead changes and 8 tied scores, as the Owls were able to make a stand to close out the game 73-60.
The Oregon Tech Hustlin’ Owls men’s basketball team takes on the Evergreen State College Geoducks at Danny Miles Court for their second home CCC contest of the weekend. The Hustlin’ Owls are coming into today’s game off of a huge upset over nationally ranked (#13) Northwest University in a dramatic double overtime victory in their CCC home opener. The Owls carry an overall record of 7-6, sitting 2-1 in conference play, while the Geoducks enter the contest 5-5 on the season and 2-2 against conference opponents.
From the opening tip, both teams were committed to tough defense and not giving their opponent clean looks at the hoop. The Geoducks would be the first to score, but the Owls responded quickly. Play would go back and forth, as neither team would be allowed to pull away. The first half saw six lead changes and five tied scores, with the largest lead of the half being just 4 points for either team. The score as the teams enter the half is 34 to 35 in favor of the Geoducks.
The second half of play picked up right where the two teams left off, exchanging baskets. 4:00 minutes into the half, the Owls would find a 5-point lead over the Geoducks, before the lead was quickly cut back to 1-point with two quick field goal conversions by the visitors. The half would wear on in the close battle until the Owls would pull away with a 9-point lead. The deficit would see a timeout called, as both teams headed to their benches with the score line at 67-58 and just 3:00 minutes remaining in the game.
The final 3:00 minutes of the contest saw the Owls extend their lead to 13-points, the largest lead for either team, as the Owls walk away with the victory 73-60 over the Geoducks.
Oregon Tech senior, Bryan Beard, finished the game with a career high 12 rebounds, while Joel Yellow Owl was 2 points off his season average (23 ppg) with 21 points on the afternoon. Guards, Brandon Halter and Mitchell Fink, added 14 and 13 points respectively for the Owls.
For the Geoducks, senior Taylor Drey led the team in scoring with 17 points, while sophomore Ryan Quigley had 12 points and 8 rebounds of his own.
The Geoducks move to 2-3 in conference play with the loss, while the Owls move to 2-2 in CCC play after the two game sweep on the home weekend. Oregon Tech men take a short break in play for the holiday, before picking up the action on December 28th at home on Danny Miles Court in a non-conference matchup against Portland Bible University at 7:30p.