Box Score


PORTLAND, Ore. – The No. 21 Eastern Oregon University men's basketball team won a back-and-forth battle against Concordia University Friday, 71-67, in the Cascade Collegiate Conference season opener.

Eastern Oregon (7-2, 1-0 Cascade Collegiate Conference) won its eighth straight game over Concordia. EOU appeared to take control of the game late when they led 63-58 with only 3:55 remaining after leading for the last seven minutes of the half.

However, a jumper from CU's Kevan West cut the lead to three and then a three-point play from Jourdan Sweeney tied the game at 63-63 with 2:36 remaining. Anthony Holton set up Sweeney for the three-point play after gathering an offensive rebound for the Cavs. Once with the ball, Holton backed it out of the paint only to fire a pass from the right side of the court to a driving Sweeney in the lane.

Concordia (4-4, 0-1) then followed up the play from Sweeney with another lay-up from Adam Herman and a tip-in from Holton to go up 67-63 with only 1:57 remaining. With their last two buckets, the Cavs had scored the last nine points over a critical two minute stretch in the waning moments of the game.

Unfortunately for the Cavaliers, Holton's tip-in would prove to be the team's last points. On EOU's next possession, Cody Thurmond hit a back-breaking three-pointer that cut the Cavs' lead to 67-66.

The Mountaineers then turned a turnover on the Cavs' next possession into a fast break lay-up for Ervin Felder on the other end. Felder's breakaway put his Mountaineers up 68-67 with 45 seconds remaining.

Concordia called a timeout to set up a play that would put them back in front. However, the team couldn't find a good look on the possession and with the shot clock winding down, West threw up a desperate three-point attempt that missed with 11 seconds to go. In addition, EOU's Anthony Brown quickly snatched the rebound off West's shot, forcing the Cavs to foul him.

The pressure then fell to Brown to hit his free-throws for his team, which he did, making three in the final seconds to ice the win for Eastern Oregon.

Felder finished with a game-high 21 points and 12 rebounds. The sophomore was 10 of 15 from the field. He added a pair of blocks.

Neither team could shake the other earlier in the game as the biggest lead came with 6:22 left in the first half when Concordia led 25-19. Overall, the game featured 16 lead-changes and seven ties.

The Cavaliers can claim some amount of a win with their performance statistically as Concordia held Eastern Oregon, the NAIA Division II leader in rebounding, offensive rebounds and rebounding margin to just 34 rebounds on the night, 14 below their season average. Meanwhile, the Cavs grabbed 47 rebounds and out-rebounded the Mountaineers again on the offensive glass, 16-12.

Concordia also outshot the Mountaineers 45.9 percent-to-43.9 percent from the floor, but the Mountaineers forced the Cavs into a season-high 22 turnovers.

Individually, West and Sweeney tied for the team lead with 17 points apiece, while Sweeney posted a double-double with 10 rebounds. Herman also cracked double-digits for the Cavs with 12 points to go along with eight rebounds.

Eastern remains in Portland Saturday, and faces No. 17 Warner Pacific College. The Knights (6-2, 1-0) eased past The College of Idaho Friday, 87-51. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Live video and stats will be on EOUSports.com. Live radio will be available on KUBQ 98.7 FM.