Box Score

LA GRANDE, Ore. – As the clock expired the three pointer from Oregon Tech's Brandon Bautista rolled off the rim and the Eastern Oregon University Mountaineers came away with a two point, 75-73, victory over the Owls on Saturday night.

Bautista scored a game-high 27 points for the Owls in the loss. EOU had three players score in double digits led by Craig Tuckers, 18 points. Trevor Phillips and Tony Eackles Jr. followed with 15 and 14 points, respectfully.

The Mountaineers jumped to an early 3-0 lead after a Tony Eackles Jr. three pointers the Owls scored the next eight points, to take an 8-3 lead over EOU. The Mountaineers slowly started to chip away at the lead and after a three pointer by Craig Tucker; the Mountaineers were within two points, 10-8.

However, Oregon Tech extended its lead back to five points, 17-12, before EOU went on an 11-0 run to take its second lead of the game. Eastern Oregon's lead did not last long as Oregon Tech bounced right back when the Owls went on a 9-0 run.

EOU continued to fight and started chipping away at the lead. With three minutes to go in the first half, The Mountaineers took the lead after a Tucker three pointer. Eastern Oregon led the rest of the first half and took a six point lead, 42-36, into halftime.

The Owls came out strong in the second half and in the first three minutes of the half, EOU's lead was cut in half, 47-44. Once the lead was cut to three, the Mountaineers and Owls continued to trade baskets and the lead bounced between three and six points for the next seven minutes, as neither team wanted to take control of the game.

With just under 10 minutes left in the game, the Mountaineers held a four point lead, 61-57, after Eackles hit a three pointer. The Mountaineers continued to add to its lead and grew it to eight points, 65-57, after Eackles hit a free throw.

Oregon Tech continued to battle and trimmed EOU's lead down to three points, 67-64, after Austen Flint hit a three pointer. The Mountaineers continued to battle and extended it back to a six point lead but the Owls continued to battle and after a tip in by Duncan Schramm the Mountaineers lead was down to one point, 70-69, with 4:21 to go in the game.

With 3:47 left in the game, Oregon Tech too the lead by a point, 71-70, after Kyle Waits hit a pair of free throws. At this point the lead began to trade hands as EOU took the lead back 30 seconds later on a Kyllian Wood layup.

EOU did not hold the lead for over 20 seconds as Oregon Tech regained the lead when Tanner Manselle hit two of three free throws giving the Owls a one point, 73-72 lead, with 3:01 left in the game.

With 2:18 to go in the game the Phillips gave EOU the lead, which they held the rest of the game, 74-73. With EOU ahead by one, 74-73, Kalvin Johanson blocked Waits layup attempt to keep the Mountaineers on top. EOU added one free throw with 23 seconds left to make it 75-73. After Baustista's three rolled out the Mountaineers came away with the 75-73 victory.

Oregon Tech will next host Vancouver Island, BC on Dec. 28 with tip beginning at 7:00 PM. Eastern Oregon returns to action on Jan. 3 when they travel to Portland to face Concordia at 7:30 p.m.