Oregon Tech's Lavar Moore finished with 27 points. C of I would defeat the Owls 78-76. (photo by Kelly Caleb)
Oregon Tech Drops Heartbreaker to College of Idaho, 78-76
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – A 3-pointer to win and a shot to tie in the final seconds didn’t find the mark, as Oregon Tech dropped a 78-76 game to College of Idaho in Cascade Collegiate Conference men’s basketball action tonight at Danny Miles Court.
Oregon Tech falls to 19-8 on the season and 9-8 in CCC play. C of I ran their overall record to 16-11 and 11-7 in the conference standings.
A Brandon Halter 3-pointer, and a Sherman Simpson free throw, gave Tech a pair of seven point leads, the last at 16-9 with 12:41 to go in the opening half.
It wasn’t long for C of I to get going, taking their own seven point advantage, 28-21, on a triple from Aitor Zubbizaretta with 5:40 on the clock.
Lavar Moore tied the game 34-all on a triple, one of his four on the night, with 1:14 showing, before C of I took a two point lead into the halftime break, 36-34, on an Emanuel Morgan score closing out the half.
The second half would see the Owls take a pair of six point leads, both on Joel Yellow Owl scores, the last at 68-62 with 5:41 remaining to play.
A 10-4 run, capped by a Morgan trey for the Yotes, tied it at 72-all 3:21 on the clock.
Three minutes later, and tied at 76-76, C of I’s Joey Nebeker’s score moved the visitors to a 78-76 advantage.
Tech, on the game’s last possession, saw Lavar Moore get off a 3-pointer to win, but would come off the back iron. A rebound and shot by Yellow Owl to tie would rim out, and C of I would escape with the 78-76 win.
Lavar Moore tied for game-high honors with 27 points, followed by Joel Yellow Owl with 17 in the loss for Oregon Tech. Brandon Halter tallied 12 points with Derek Evans grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds.
Joey Nebeker recorded a double-double with 27 points to go with his team-high 11 rebounds. Marck Coffin chipped in 17 points with Aitor Zubizarreta adding 15 points in the win for the Yotes.
Oregon Tech will host Eastern Oregon University February 14 at 3 p.m. to close out regular season home action. C of I travels to Ashland to face Southern Oregon University.