SOU holds off Beacons 77-74 to finish perfect week
SOU Sports Information
ASHLAND – The 15th-ranked Southern Oregon men's basketball team had just enough left in the tank to fight off Northwest Christian's upset bid and top off a huge week with a 77-74 triumph Saturday night at Lithia Motors pavilion.
Tate Hoffman notched his fourth double-double, accumulating 24 points and 10 rebounds, and the Raiders scored the last three points of the game at the free-throw line to win their seventh straight game.
After NCU tied it at 74 on Dyshawn Hobson's deep 3-pointer with 1:20 to go, Teron Bradford got to the hoop, drew a foul and cashed in on both free-throw attempts. Hoffman came up with a steal on NCU's ensuing possession and Tez Allen split a pair at the line.
The Beacons got the ball back with 23 seconds left but had to settle on forward Shawn Carson's contested 3-point attempt, which drew all backboard as time expired.
Winners of 10 of their last 11, the second-place Raiders shot to 15-4 overall and 9-2 in the Cascade Conference going into next Friday's clash at first-place and third-ranked College of Idaho.
Playing for the third time in four days, they took a 35-27 lead into halftime despite a 12-of-32 showing from the field. They traded leads four times as NCU heated up in the second half and were down 71-70 before Tez Allen went strong to the hoop and finished to put them back up with 2:05 left. Jake Virga then hit a 15-foot jumper to make it 74-71, but Hobson forced the tie on the other end.
Allen recorded 14 points, seven rebounds and one thunderous dunk, and scored nine in the second half. Aaron Borich went for 15 points, seven assists and five rebounds, Conor Carroll pitched in eight key points off the bench and Teron Bradford had seven points, six assists, three steals and two blocks.
Ernest Ugoagu scored 18 and Kaden Sand had 15 to keep the Beacons in it. They combined for 29 after halftime, and Carson contributed 11 points and seven boards.
The Raiders prevailed despite shooting 5-of-24 from 3 and 16-of-25 at the stripe. They had just eight turnovers, though, and didn't commit more than 10 all week.
Hoffman shot 9-of-16 and scored 12 in each half, going over 20 for the fourth time in CCC play.