by Dawson Forcella
LA GRANDE, Ore. – In just their second conference game of the season the Mounties found themselves in a dogfight with Southern Oregon University. A late push by the Raiders forced the game into overtime. The final period turned into the Phillip Malatare (Salish/Kootenai) show as the reigning CCC Newcomer of the Year scored every single point for the Mountaineers to take a 96-90 win. Eastern Oregon moves to 2-0 in conference play and 5-3 overall, while SOU falls to 0-2 in conference and 3-4 overall.
The first half went in the Mounties favor as they came to life late in the half. Eastern stayed in a consistent groove in the first half shooting over 60 percent from the field and three-point line allowing them to overcome an early deficit. The Mounties built an 11-point lead thanks in part to a hot-handed Emmit Taylor III (Yakama/Nez Perce) who went 3-4 from three in the half. The Raiders were able to knock it down to six thanks to a Brett Hollins three with under a minute to go before Justin Jeske knocked down a short jumper for the Mounties to make it 44-36 at the half.
Early on in the second frame it looked as though the Mountaineers might run away with it holding a double-digit lead well into the second half. SOU’s Atmar Mundu wasn’t going to have it though as he pushed the Raiders back into it with 17 second-half points on 6-7 shooting. Mundu scored seven of SOU’s last nine points to push the game to overtime.
With momentum up for grabs in the shortened third period, Phillip Malatare took control. The senior dominated the period scoring all 10 points for the Mounties while the Mountaineer defense held SOU to just four points. Malatare missed only one shot while also recording three rebounds in overtime.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES
- EOU
- Phillip Malatare: 22 PTS, 10-18 FG, 10 REB, 6 AST
- Preston Chandler: 19 PTS, 6-8 FG, 1-1 3PT, 2 REB, 2 AST
- Emmit Taylor III: 14 PTS, 5-9 FG, 4-7 3PT, 2 REB
