Box Score
LA GRANDE, Ore. – The No. 11 Northwest University men's basketball team picked up a key Cascade Collegiate Conference road win at Eastern Oregon University Friday, 61-57.
The Eagles (20-2, 10-2 CCC) clinched their third consecutive 20-win season with the victory. In a game that featured three lead changes and eight ties, Northwest pulled out its first win in La Grande since 2007.
Jordan Call led NU with 12 points. The senior was 4-for-13 from the field, including 2-of-4 from behind the arc. Jason Waltman, Ahmaad Cook and Tyler Mendezona each scored 10 points. Rich Skillman grabbed eight rebounds, and Call and Cook each threw four assists.
Eastern Oregon led most of the first half after NU had taken an early 11-6 lead as Travares Peterson's driving layup tied the game at 11-11 with 15:20 left in the half. EOU would not lead by more than five points as Northwest cut the Mountaineer lead to just two points several times. Eastern's Jeff Ranstrom closed the first half with a layup with five seconds left on the clock as EOU would take a 31-27 lead into the locker room.
In the second half, with EOU leading 39-33 with 14:13 remaining in regulation, the Eagles began to chip away at their lead. Northwest went on a 19-3 run over the next 10 minutes capped off by Jordan Call's jumper at the 5:01 mark. NU had a 52-42 advantage at that point.
Eastern Oregon responded with an 11-3 run to pull to within two points, 55-53, with 2:05 on the clock. A Ranstrom steal and layup by Mason Jones would tie the game at 55 with 1:40 left in the game, but Waltman would answer with a reverse layup in the paint for the 57-55 lead. Ranstrom would tie the score once again and once again, NU answered as Cook found Nemanja Grujicic cutting to the basket for a layup with just 16 seconds left.
Mendezona would save the game for the Eagles as he blocked Peterson's baseline jumper and gained possession of the ball with six seconds remaining. Jordan Call was fouled on the ensuing play and then made two free throws to seal the win.
Peterson led all scorers with 19 points. The senior was 9-of-14 from the field. Jamar Johnson added 16 points. Ranstrom grabbed nine rebounds and had five steals. Jones threw five assists. EOU finished 41 percent from the field, 3-of-17 from behind the perimeter, and 6-of-11 from the free-throw line.
The Mountaineers (13-8, 6-6) host The Evergreen State College Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The Geoducks (1-20, 0-12) fell at The College of Idaho Friday, 73-44. Live video and stats will be on EOUSports.com. Live radio will be on KUBQ 98.7 FM.
It will be '80s Night in Quinn Coliseum. Fans are encouraged to wear '80s attire to the games, and all fans dressed in '80s attire will receive a giveaway. Fans can get into the games for free with the donation of two non-perishable food items. The free general admission ticket for food donation will only last until halftime of the women's game.