ASHLAND, Ore. -- Southern Oregon University led by just  four points with 10 minutes left in the first half, but the Raiders held a 13-point lead at halftime, and pulled away in the final 12 minutes of the game for a 93-60 victory over The Evergreen State College at Lithia Motors Pavilion on Saturday, Dec. 6. In the second half, the Raiders shot 61.3% from the field (19 of 31).

With the Cascade Collegiate Conference men's basketball win, Southern Oregon improved to 4-5 on the season, 2-0 in the CCC. Evergreen moved to 0-4 overall, 0-2 in the CCC.

The Raiders built a 16-3 lead with 16:27 left in the first half, as Jacob Axmaker hit a trio of 3-point baskets. A bit later, SOU held a 22-8 advantage following a 3-pointer by Emmett Fenz with 12:47 on the clock. Evergreen countered with a 10-0 run to cut the margin to 28-18 with 10:04 remaining in the half. The run by the Geoducks included five points by Kenzel Massey (So., G), a traditional three-point play from Tony Frohlich-Fair (Sr., W) on a fastbreak, and two free throws by Tyler No (Jr., G). 

When Jayson Mathews (Jr., G) scored on a layup for the Geoducks at the 9:34 mark, Evergreen pulled within four points for the second time at 24-20. Luke Wagstaff added a basket for the Raiders on their next possession, starting a 12-2 run that expanded SOU's advantage to 36-22. 

The Geoduck reduced the Raiders' lead to eight points twice, including 40-32 after Gabriel Wigginton (Jr., W) sank a 3-pointer with 2:57 remaining in the half. Southern Oregon scored the last five points of the half to take a 45-32 lead into the break.

Evergreen gained a 17-15 scoring edge at the start of the second half and trailed 60-49 with 11:49 left following a 3-point basket by Massey. The Raiders answered with a 13-0 run that ended with a layup by Wagstaff at the 8:23 mark for a 73-49 lead. After No put in a layup for Evergreen 25 seconds later, Southern Oregon tacked on an 11-0 run.

Frohlich-Fair led the Geoducks with 13 points and eight rebounds. Wigginton provided eight points and blocked two shots, while Massey contributed eight points, six boards, ana team-high three steals. Mathews and No each scored six points for Evergreen. Bradley Graham (Sr., G) supplied four assists.

Elijah Jackson was SOU's top scorer with 19 points as he hit 6 of 10 field goals and went 3 for 5 on 3-point shots. Wagstaff followed with13 points and was 5 for 8 from the field. Axmaker tacked on 12 points, all on 3-point basket, while Joe Juhala produced 10 points and hauled down six rebounds. Trey Neff earned eight points and eight boards. Bryce Dyer was credited with seven points, seven rebounds, and six assists.

For the game, SOU was 33 of 62 on field goals (53.2%), including 14 of 32 on 3-pointers (43.8%). The Raiders hit 13 of 20 free throws (65.0%). Evergreen shot 28.8% from the field (19 of 66). The Geoducks made 8 of 32 three-pointers (25.0%) and went 14 for 17 (82.4%) at the free throw line. SOU claimed a 45-35 rebounding edge.

The Geoducks will play at Central Washington University on Saturday, Dec. 13. It will be an exhibition game for Evergreen. Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. PST.