Kyle Gomez hits for two of his game-high 21 points. Gomez also grabbed nine rebounds and handed out six assists in CCC quarterfinal win tonight over Concordia University. (photo by Kelly Caleb)
Oregon Tech Moves to CCC Semifinals, Concordia’s Season Ends
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Eighth-ranked and #1 seed Oregon Tech defeated eighth-seeded Concordia University tonight in the Cascade Conference Tournament quarterfinal round 69-51. It was the seventh straight win over the Cavaliers and second in just five days.
Oregon Tech runs their overall mark to 27-4, while Concordia’s season ends with a 12-18 record. Oregon Tech will host Corban University, 66-57 winners at Warner Pacific College, in the CCC semifinal round this Saturday beginning at 7 p.m.
A Concordia basket at 18:22 of the first period gave the Cavs their only lead of the game, while Tech’s first basket on the next possession tied it up at 2-2. Oregon Tech would score the next nine points to lead 11-2 with 14:44 remaining in the first period.
Concordia pulled to within striking distance at 15-12, but a 14-4 Owl run, capped by a Kyle Gomez triple, doubled up the score to make it 32-16.
Concordia cut their deficit to seven points with under 50 seconds on the clock, but Gomez answered with a turnaround jumper in the key in the final seconds to send OIT into the half leading 36-27.
Oregon Tech opened the second half scoring on a 12-4 run that put the home team up 15 points with 16:47 to play.
Concordia answered, and with a 3-pointer at the midway point, pulled the Cavaliers to single digits, 48-40.
That was as close as CU could get, and when the Owls scored on three consecutive layups, Tech would regain a double digit lead, 54-40, with eight minutes to play. Bryant Sentman then capped the 15-5 run with a jumper to give the Owls an 18 point cushion with 5:32 on the clock. The teams would trade points over the next five minutes as Tech went on for a 69-51 win.
Kyle Gomez, plagued by foul trouble from the onset, finished with a game-high 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Brent Johnson was 7-of-9 shooting and good for 14 points, while Bryant Sentman added 10 points in the win for Oregon Tech.
Kevan West led Concordia with 17 points and added six rebounds. Jourdan Sweeney finished with 16 points and nine rebounds in the Cav loss.