OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Four players from The Evergreen State College provided double-digit scoring in a loss to #24-ranked Oregon Tech on Friday, Jan. 31 at the Costantino Recreation Center. OIT led 54-46 at halftime and pulled away in the second half to defeat the Geoducks 122-92.
Bradley Graham (Jr., G) led the Evergreen with 21 points.
Oregon Tech improved to 16-4, including 12-2 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference. Evergreen fell to 1-16 overall, 1-13 in the CCC.
Bradley hit 7 of 11 field goals and was 3 for 5 on 3-point shots for the Geoducks.
Solomon Campbell (Jr., F) added 18 points and was 8 for 9 from the field.
Jourdan Joseph (Sr., G) tacked on 17 points and two steals.
Zach Jefferson (Jr., G) scored 16 points, led Evergreen with five rebounds, and provided two steals. Jefferson hit 6 of 9 field goals and was 3 of 4 from 3-point range.
Blake Jensen was OIT's top scorer with 30 points, while connecting on 9 of 10 field goals and 12 of 13 free throws. He also hauled down a game-high eight boards. Kam Osborn and Keegan Shivers each registered 20 points for the Owls. Osborn led all layers with six 3-point baskets, while Shivers added four 3-pointers. Osbon also supplied the Owls with six assists. Jamison Guerra grabbed seven rebounds.
Evergreen took a 5-0 lead less than two minutes into the game on a 3-pointer by Joseph and a jumper by
Jemoi Davis (Jr., W). OIT tallied the next five points, but Graham added a layup to give the Geoducks a 7-5 edge. The Owls scored five consecutive points on a layup by Jensen and a 3-pointer by Osborn to move in front 10-7.
Oregon Tech held a 17-12 lead with 14:40 left in the half before Graham cut the margin to two points with a traditional three-point play. The Geoducks pulled as close as two points two more times before tying the score at 26-26 on a tip-in by Campbell with 9:16 on the clock. The Owls tallied the next four points, but Evergreen cut the lead to 30-28 with a layup from
Garret Long (Jr., G/W) at the 7:57 mark.
The score was tied at 32-32 with 6:04 remaining in the half following a layup by Jefferson. OIT gained a 36-32 lead when Jensen scored a basket with 4:17 to play. Later, a 3-pointer by Shivers gave the Owls a 52-41 as the clock reached 1:16. The Owls went into the break with a 54-46 advantage.
Oregon Tech expanded its lead in the second half. The Owls led 79-58 after a 3-pointer by Osborn with 14:49 remaining. The Geoducks battled and moved within 14 points at 87-73 on a free throw by Joseph with 10:25 to go. OIT answered with a 12-0 run to take command.
Evergreen shot 54.2% from the field (32 of 59). The Geoducks sank 10 of 24 three-point attempts (41.7%). The Owls connected on 39 of 61 field goals (63.9%), while hitting 15 of 30 three-point tries (50.0%). OIT attained a 35-22 rebounding margin.
The Geoducks will take on Southern Oregon University on Saturday, Feb. 1 at the CRC. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m. PST.
