by KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.– The Oregon Tech Hustlin’ Owls handed the Eagles of Northwest University their first loss of the season in a double overtime contest, 98-96. Tech freshman guard, Mitchell Fink, and NU senior guard, Michael Dupree, put on a show to keep their teams alive when it counted. The contest saw 13 lead changes and 17 tied scores.
Oregon Tech hosted the Eagles of Northwest University in their first CCC home games of the season Saturday afternoon at Danny Miles Court. The Eagles entered the matchup ranked 13th in the nation with a record of 11-0 on the season and 3-0 in conference, while the Owls, were coming off of two tough road games and entered tonight’s matchup 0-2 in the conference and 6-5 overall on the season.
Right from the tip off, both teams started with high intensity and exchanging baskets. Tech senior, Joel Yellow Owl, was running the floor early, as he was able to find 7 quick points before the first media timeout with the score 13-9 in favor of the home team. NU would come off the media timeout going on a 11-4 run, changing the lead in favor of the visitors 2-17,10:00 minutes into the first half.
The two teams would continue to push the pace of the game as buckets were exchanged, both teams would put up 12 points each, extending the score to 32-29 over the next 4:00 minutes. Yellow Owl would stretch his tally to 17 points during this time. The lead would continue to go back and forth leading into the half. The final minute of the of the half would see Tech freshman, Mitchell Fink, drive to the hoop tossing up a floater over the outstretched hands of the NU defense, to tie the game, and he did it again a second time to send the Owls into the half with a two-point lead 41-39.
The second half of play would see both teams continue to trade baskets. Tech would go up by 6 points, before NU would close the gap and find the lead of their own, going up by 4 points. Neither team could make any headway in pulling away. The Owls would work to keep the lead for the first 15:00 minutes of the half, forcing the Eagles to hold on while chasing. With 5:00 minutes left, NU would take the lead and the momentum of the game would shift, as they stretched pulled away by 6 points and holding Tech at bay.
Coming out of a timeout with :40 seconds left on the clock, a Brandon Halter steal and pass to Fink, would lead to an Owls 3-point play, as Fink was fouled on his lay in and would hit on his free-throw making it a 2-point game. The hurried inbound pass by the Eagles would see a turnover at half court giving Tech a chance to tie the game with :20 seconds to go. Tech junior, Andrew Weber would be the unlikely player to put away his first points of the contest to tie the game, again, at 75-75. NU senior guard, Michael Dupree, would gather the ball off the inbound pass and streak the length of the court for a lay-in under pressure to put the Eagles up 75-77 with just :03 seconds left in the game. Fink, would replicate the end of the first half, as he ran the length of the court and put up a running floater to beat the sounding buzzer bringing the game level at 77-77, sending the game into its first overtime.
The overtime period would keep the energy high in Danny Miles Court, as the game turned into a slugfest of baskets. The teams would both score 11 points apiece, with NU missing on their last two shots to end the game as victors, forcing double OT, with the score 88-88.
The second period of overtime was more of the same. Both teams attacking the hoop and sending shooters to the free throw line. Three lead changes and four tied scores would have guards from both teams, Fink (Tech) and Dupree (NU), hitting 3-pointers and free throws, as the clock winds down.
A timeout with :11 seconds on the game clock, and :04 seconds on the shot clock, would see NU organize what would be their final shot of the game. Solid defensive pressure by Tech would force a long 3-point attempt that would miss the rim, resulting in a shot clock violation and turnover. The game clock at 5.2 seconds, would give the ball back to the Owls for Fink to have one last look at the hoop. Collecting the ball off the inbound pass, Fink would run the length of the court, driving to the hoop one last time. The ball would leave Fink’s hand kissing the glass and dropping through the hoop, as the buzzer sounded, as Oregon Tech would pull out the dramatic victory with the final score of 98-96.
Freshman guard, Mitchell Fink for Oregon Tech would finish the game with a career high 22 points and 9 assists. Joel Yellow Owl would lead Tech in scoring on the night with 35 points, as the two Tech players would score more than half of the teams points, combining for 57 points on the night.
NU was led in scoring by senior guard, Michael Dupree, with 37 points on the night, while teammates Ben Tucakovic, Tre’ Benton and Paul Loranger added 17, 12 and 11 points respectively.
With their first loss of the season, NU moves to a record of 11-1, 3-1 in conference, while the Oregon Tech moves to 7-6 on the season and 2-1 in CCC play.
Oregon Tech will be back on the court tomorrow, Sunday, December 18th at 3:00p to take on the Geoducks of Evergreen.
