Joel Yellow Owl scored a game-high 25 points to lead Oregon Tech by Walla Walla in overtime, 78-76. (photo by Kelly Caleb)
Oregon Tech Escapes Walla Walla University in Overtime, 78-76
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – A Ryan Spady triple with 2.3 seconds sent the game to overtime, while a 3-pointer to win it for Walla Walla University fell short, as Oregon Tech escaped with a 78-76 win in Cascade Collegiate Conference men’s basketball action this afternoon at Danny Miles Court.
Oregon Tech ran their overall mark to 19-6 and 9-6 in CCC action. Walla Walla University fell to 1-15 in league action.
Oregon Tech opened up to a trio of seven point leads in the first six minutes of play leading 16-9 with 14:21 on the clock in the opening period.
WWU kept pace, tying it at 24-all on a Ryan Spady score with 6:37 to play in the first half.
A Lavar Moore triple capped a 7-0 run for the Owls, holding a 31-24 advantage.
The same seven point lead remained with 1:51 before WWU closed the gap again, this time closing to 33-31 on a Chad Torkelsen 3-pointer.
A Joel Yellow Owl layup off a nice pass from Moore gave Tech a 35-31 lead heading into intermission.
Oregon Tech bumped their lead to five on two occasions to open the second half, only to see the Wolves hang around and take their first lead of the game, 43-42, on a Spady score with 15:02 remaining to play.
WWU would hold their one point advantage at the midway point, 52-51.
The teams traded scores over the next five minutes of play before WWU moved up 60-56 on a pair of free throws and jumper by Michael Isotalo.
Tech next moved up five points, 67-62, on a Joel Yellow Owl free throw and held a three point lead, 69-66, with 12 seconds to play.
WWU’s Ryan Spady would fake a handoff and his wide open look from long distance connected, tying the game at 69-69 with 2.3 seconds to go.
Austen Flint’s runner to win was hard off the backboard as the teams went to overtime.
Torkelsen’s triple to open the extra session gave WWU a 72-69 advantage with Tech taking a 75-74 lead on a pair of Andrew Weber free throws with 2:14 to go. The Owls held a 77-74 lead after a Yellow Owl score with 1:00 on the clock.
Two free throws by WWU and one by the Owls gave the home team a 78-76 lead with time winding down.
WWU went for the win on their last possession where the trey by Torkelsen was short as time expired in a scramble for the ball.
Joel Yellow Owls finished 9-of-11 from the floor to lead all scorers with 25 points to go with seven rebounds. Lavar Moore added 23 points with Austen Flint coming away with 14 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the win.
Ryan Spady scored a team-high 18 points to lead WWU. Ethan Osias added 15 points and Chad Torkelsen 13 in the loss. Jordan Underwood snared a game-high nine rebounds and added eight points.