Josiah Sebens put together his third 20-point game of the season thanks to a game-high scoring output, as Corban snapped a five-game losing streak with a win over Evergreen Saturday inside the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center.
Corban Snaps Skid With Win Over Evergreen
BOX SCORE
SALEM, Ore. – Four Warriors scored in double figures with Josiah Sebens leading the way with a game-high tying 24 points, as Corban University snapped a five-game losing streak with a 76-70 win over The Evergreen State College Saturday inside the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center.
With tonight's first conference victory of 2013, Corban improves to 7-12 overall and 3-8 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play. Meanwhile, Evergreen falls to 2-17 overall and 1-10 in league games.
Along with Seben's game-high performance scoring-wise, Andrew Evans added 15 points, seven rebounds, and a team-high tying three assists to go along with a 13-point showing by Marcus Butler and a 10-point effort by Kent Foster off the bench. On the boards, Sebens controlled the glass for Corban pulling down a game-high eight rebounds with Evans and Butler chipping in with seven and six boards, respectively. Butler also led all players with a game-high five steals, while Dustin Moore and Geoffrey Martin pouring in six points each.
Evergreen would begin the game by jumping out to a four-point lead (6-2) before Corban came storming back via a 9-2 run to go ahead by three points (11-8) on a Sebens three-pointer with 17:04 on the clock. The host Warriors would continue to hold the lead over the next five minutes until Evergreen pulled ahead by a single point (20-19) on a lay-in by Frankie Johnson with 10:32 left. Corban would take command of the game with a 11-3 run over a span of six minutes, as the Warriors grabbed an eight-point lead (30-22) thanks to another three-pointer by Sebens with just under four minutes left. The visiting Geoducks would not quit over the final four minutes, as Evergreen used a closing 9-4 run to get within three points (34-31) at halftime.
The second half would begin with Corban scoring six of the first seven points en route to building an eight-point lead (40-32) on back-to-back free throws by Sebens at the 17:54 mark. Evergreen would battle back to tie the game at 44-all via a 12-4 run over a span of two-plus minutes, as the Geoducks would then take the lead (46-44) on a Michael Potter jumper at the 14:40 mark. The back-and-forth battle would continue over the next 90 seconds, as Corban tied the game for the seventh time at 48-48 on a fast-break lay-in by Moore with 12:58 on the clock. The host Warriors would then use a 14-2 run over a span of six-plus minutes to go ahead by 12 points (62-50) on a three-pointer by Sebens with 6:18 left. Up by 11 points (66-55) with just under five minutes left, Corban went scoreless over the next 90 seconds allowing Evergreen to pull within five points (66-61) on a Johnson three-pointer with 3:24 remaining. Free throw shooting down the stretch along with timely defense would allow Corban to secure the hard-fought win, as the Warriors went 8-for-12 over the final three-plus minutes to earn the 76-70 victory.
Johnson led Evergreen with a game-high tying 24 points, while Cody Peters and Travis Wagner also scored in double figures with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Peters and Wagner would also pull down a team-high seven rebounds each, while Wagner handed out a game-high six assists for the Geoducks.
As a team, Corban combined to shoot 25-for-55 (45.5%) from the field that included a 5-for-15 (33.3%) performance from beyond the three-point line and a 21-for-29 (72.4%) showing at the free throw line. On the other hand, Evergreen was a combined 26-for-60 (43.3%) from the field, 10-of-27 (37.0%) from long distance, and 8-of-11 (72.7%) at the charity stripe.
Both teams will return to action on Friday, January 25th, with Corban hosting conference rival Northwest Christian in Salem and Evergreen taking on The College of Idaho in Olympia, Washington. Each game is scheduled to tip-off at approximately 7:30 p.m.