Wolves Lose Heartbreaker to Mountaineers
Paul Starkebaum, Sports Information Director
College Place, Wash. – After crawling out of a 22-point hole, Walla Walla failed to hold onto a 10-point lead in the final 5:25 in an 80-77 loss to Eastern Oregon. Walla Walla's 32-point swing was powered by an outstanding game by Wesley Burke, but a go-ahead three-pointer from the Mountaineers Cole Ashby with 25 seconds on the clock would prove to be the difference.
In the opening minutes, Eastern Oregon got things going quickly, jumping out to a 9-4 lead. The Wolves looked to get the ball inside early, and a Cameron Silver completed the old fashion three-point play to get the Wolves within two points with 14:49 on the clock. Scoring slowed, but the Mountaineers continued to build their lead, and a jumper from Jordan May put Eastern up 30-15 over Walla Walla with 7:18 to go in the half. A layup from May with 1:48 on the clock stretched the lead to its greatest lengths for the Mountaineers at 22-points. The Wolves found themselves in a big hole, down 45-24 heading into halftime.
Walla Walla came out firing on all cylinders to open the second, as they ripped off a 19-6 run over the opening five minutes to cut the lead to seven points. Burke account for eight of those points, including a three-pointer to cut the lead to single digits. The Wolves comeback continued, and with 11:18 on the clock, Burke hit a free-throw to give Walla Walla their first lead of the game. The rally continued and on the next possession, big man Jacob Vargas nailed a three to force a timeout from Eastern Oregon. Walla Walla built their lead all the way to double-digits after a free-throw from Alex Calloway with 5:25 on the clock.
But things would make a slow turn in favor of the Mountaineers, with the Wolves would only score six points over the last five minutes of the game. Eastern got contributions from several different players, but in the thick of things was McCullough, who scored six of the team's final 19 points. With: 47 seconds on the clock, Garret Sawyer tipped in a missed layup to give the Mountaineers back the lead. Roy Zavala made two free-throws to give Walla Walla back a 1-point lead with 45 seconds remaining. The ball found its way to Ashby on the next possession, who nailed the dagger three-pointer to give Eastern a two-point lead. Walla Walla was down three after a free throw and was unable to get a shot off in the final 6 seconds, giving Eastern Oregon the 80-77 victory.
McCullough's 23 points was a game-high. Burke's 22 was a team high for Walla Walla, and Dylan Browning chipped in 13. Peter Hamilton of Eastern Oregon had 12 rebounds, Walla Walla's Browning and Calloway each had nine.
The Wolves are on the road next weekend to Klamath Falls, Oregon to take on Oregon Tech next Saturday.