(Klamath Falls, OR) Oregon Tech, a top 25 caliber team in the NAIA, took the weekend finale on Saturday by a final of 74-66 against No. 21 LC State Men’s Basketball. Alton Hamilton notched a double-double with 16 rebounds and 13 points while MaCarhy Morris led the Warriors in scoring with 14 points. Dylan Skaife scored a career-high for the second straight night with 10 points.
“Tough road trip for the Warriors,” coach Austin Johnson said. “Another night where we were completely dominated physically on the glass and in the paint. Our guys are a connected group, and I believe we can take some strides in the second half of league play but we’ll need to take a big step in terms of being more physicality and urgency.”
The loss drops the LC State record to 13-5 overall and 8-4 after the first half of Cascade Conference play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
OIT won the tip and scored on their first two possessions of the contest. The Owls put the Warriors in an 8-0 hole by 17:40. Skaife hit a 3 to put the Warriors on the board at 16:43, but Oregon Tech added two more buckets for a 12-3 lead by 15:32.
Hamilton tallied four points for LC State by 13:41 before a 3-pointer by Morris brought the Warriors within six, 16-10, at 13:23. OIT answered with a run of eight to surge ahead 24-10 by 11:51.
Skaife and John Lustig scored but the Owls maintained control in the half. Jayceon Smith struck for five points including a triple as the clock ticked under six minutes to play in the half, and a layup by Lustig had the score within 10, 32-22, at 5:10. Taden King capped the nine-point run 10 seconds later. OIT answered with four before another 3 by Skaife kept the difference within 10, 36-27.
Smith scored in the final two minutes as Oregon Tech took a 43-29 lead into halftime.
Morris struck first in the second half and King hit a 3 to bring the difference back within 10, 43-34, at 18:31. Josh Salguero tipped back an offensive board and Hamilton hit a jumper for a 9-2 run through the first five minutes to bring the Warrior deficit to 45-38.
Baskets by Hamilton and Morris kept the Warriors in the game. Gorden Boykins scored at 8:09 before free throws by Morris and buckets by King and Smith attempted to chip away late.
Back-to-back buckets by Morris and Lustig had the score within 10 in the final three minutes, but the Owls took the contest 74-66.
STAT RECAP
Hamilton grabbed 16 boards to go with 13 points, four assists, one steal and a block on the night while Morris tallied 14 points with four assists and a steal. Skaife added 10 points on a pair of 3s and also grabbed a career-best four rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Warriors return to Lewiston next weekend to kick off the second half of Cascade Conference play. LC State hosts Evergreen State (Wash.) on Friday and Northwest (Wash.) on Saturday.