by Klamath Falls, Ore. – The Hustlin’ Owls of Oregon Tech extend their win streak to six games with a 93-84 win over Walla Walla University at Danny Miles Court Saturday night.
Oregon Tech moves to 6-2 in CCC play 13-5 overall with the win. Walla Walla drops to 0-7 in CCC play and 1-14 overall with the loss.
From the tip, both teams started with high energy. The Wolves were the first to strike with a long three-pointer by Ethan Osias, but saw the Owls respond right away with a three of their own by Mitchell Fink. Play would continue back and forth with the teams exchanging baskets evenly through the first 9:00 minutes of the half. After being tied at 19-19, Walla Walla would go on a 19-8 run to take an 11-point lead over Tech. Tech freshman, Tyler Hieb, would hit a 3 and make it an 8-point game before both teams would regroup with a timeout.
The final 7:00 minutes of the first half would see the Owls chase the lead from the Wolves, and they would take it with: 48 seconds left as Tech freshman Seth Erickson would drive hard down the paint to be fouled on his made basket tying the score. Erickson would go on to convert his free-throw for a 3-point play and give the Owls the lead for the first time since the 3:00 minute mark in the game. The half would close out with the score remaining 44-43 in favor of the home team.
The second half would see both teams pick up right where they had left off with high energy, only this time the Wolves were chasing the Owls. Tech would extend their lead by as much as 7 points, but could not run away from the Wolves. With 10:00 minutes remaining in the game, the Owls finally started to pull away, as a Brandon Halter 3-pointer would give Tech their first double digit lead of the contest at 73-61.
The Owls would have to work to maintain the lead, as the Wolves fought to close the gap and keep the lead to single digits. With the clock running down, WWU would hit a big 3-pointer to bring the game within 7 points at 88-81, before the Owls would close out the game on a 6 to 2 point run. The contest would end with the score at 93-84 in favor of the Hustlin’ Owls.
Joel Yellow-Owl (Blackfeet/Yakama) would lead Tech with 33 points, while Fink and Bryan Beard would add 14 points each, and Beard also pulling down 10 rebounds for a double-double on the evening.
WWU was led by Alec Calloway with 18 points on the night, while Osias and Austin Jennings each added 13 points.
Oregon Tech will be back in action at home on Danny Miles Court Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 7:30pm, as they take on Eastern Oregon University. The Mountaineers are 8-0 in Cascade Conference play and all alone in first place entering Thursday Nights game.
