Box Score SALEM, Ore. - In search of its first Cascade Collegiate Conference men's basketball victory of the season, The Evergreen State College came oh-so-close on Saturday night before falling 74-70 to the Corban Warriors at C.E. Jeffers Sports Center.

Evergreen is now 3-15 for the season and 0-11 overall, while Corban improves to 11-9 overall and 4-7 in the conference.

The contest featured seven lead changes and four ties. The Geoducks held their largest lead at six points about three minutes into the second half, while Corban led by eight with 9:08 to play in the opening period.

Defense and poor shooting by both teams prevailed in the opening 20 minutes, which ended in a 26-26 tie. The Geoducks shot 37 percent and the Warriors 38 percent in the opening half.

Both teams heated up in the final period, Evergreen at 50 percent and Corban at 54 percent from the field. Where the hosts won the game was at the foul line, however, as they were 15-for-18 in the second half and 17-for-20 overall. Evergreen, meanwhile was just 7-for-11 at the charity stripe.

The Geoducks scored the game's first four points but soon Corban grabbed the lead and kept it until a late six-point run netted the Geoducks a 26-26 halftime tie.

In the first 3:14 of the second half Evergreen took a 36-30 lead with Brock Otis scoring five points and Frankie Johnson knocking down a three-ponter. The Geoducks stayed on top until Corban gained a 49-47 advantage with 9:33 to play. Evergreen got on top again, 50-49, on a three by Landon Rushton, but the Warriors held the lead over the final 7 1/2 minutes of the game despite Evergreen's best effort.

Otis had a strong game for the Geoducks with 21 points on 9-for-12 shooting from the field. Johnson added 11 points and Alix Hernandez contributed 10 points and seven assists for Evergreen. Jordan Dam tallied nine points, a team-high six rebounds and four assists.

Cyrus Ward took advantage of the undersized Geoducks to scord 26 points on 12-for-14 shooting from the field. Caleb Herzberg hit four three-pointers on the way to 16 points and Jordan Carter added 14 points and a team-high nine rebounds.

Evergreen is back in action next Saturday night when it travels to Kirkland to face the Northwest University Eagles in another conference clash.