SALEM, Ore. – The Corban University men's basketball team was unable to stave off the hot-shooting Multnomah University Lions on Friday night, falling to the Lions in the final moments of a thriller, 97-93. The Warriors were tasked with staving off an impressive first-half perimeter showing from the Lions, who shot 58.8% from distance in the opening 20 minutes.
The Lions leaned on Justin Martin—the NAIA's leading scorer—in the victory. Martin tallied 40 points in the triumph, including 28 in the second half. Additionally, Forrest Smith (19 points) and Zach Richardson (15 points) each served as dangerous perimeter threats.
"Every team in this league brings a different challenge," said head coach Mitch Freeman. "Multnomah was excellent tonight, and Martin is one of the toughest guards to contain. We battled back and gave ourselves a chance down the stretch, but it wasn't enough."
The Warriors relied on the offensive output of AJ Hodges to lead their scoring efforts. He ended with 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting. In the paint, Beau Roggenbach added 14 points of his own (5-of-6 FG), while also picking up four boards.
Earning a double-double, Jason Smarr was responsible for 12 points and 11 boards. Denis Kirichenko showcased his dynamic style of play, picking up 14 points and seven boards.
In his return from a three-game hiatus, Martin struggled from downtown (2-11 3PT), but was able to consistently drive to the basket for acrobatic lay-ins. The standout guard was also exceptional from the charity stripe, sinking 16-of-17 free throws.
Corban shot 47.1% from the field and 39.3% from deep, while Multnomah managed a 49.2% shooting mark overall and an impressive 44.1% effort from beyond the arc.
It's the first Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) triumph of the season for Multnomah, which moves to 8-8 (1-5 CCC) on the 2019-20 campaign.
Looking to bounce back, Corban (8-10, 2-6 CCC) returns to the hardwood tomorrow night for a battle with Warner Pacific University. Tip-off for the conference tilt is slated for 7:30 p.m.