Box Score

ASHLAND, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University men's basketball team kept it close for the majority of the game against No. 9 Southern Oregon University on Saturday night but the Raiders were two strong late in the contest and defeated EOU, 80-65.

Eastern Oregon had four players score in double-digits in the contest led by Tony Eackles Jr's 17 points. Craig Tucker followed with 16 on 4-of-7 shooting from behind the arch. Trevor Phillips and Deonta Edwards rounded out the double figure scorers with 10 points apiece.

The Mountaineers kept the game close during the first half. After Southern Oregon opened the game on a 5-0 run, EOU mounted a comeback. Eastern Oregon battled and after an Edwards three pointer, the Mountaineers found themselves down two points, 10-8.

Eastern Oregon continued to battle and took a one point lead, 13-12, after a Phillips layup. However, the lead was short lived as Southern Oregon took the lead back 45 seconds later on a jumper by Jeff Bush. EOU continued to battle and never let the Raiders take a lead larger than five points, 27-22, the rest of the first half.

With EOU down five points, the Mountaineers slowly started to trim the Raiders lead and tied the game at 29 after a pair of three throws by Kyllian Wood. Southern Oregon took the lead 20 seconds later but EOU tied the game with 2 minutes to go before halftime at 32 after an Eackles free throw. The Raiders added a layup by David Sturner to take a two point lead, 34-32, into halftime.

Eastern Oregon came out strong in the second half and on its first position of the half took a one point lead, 35-34, after an Edwards three pointer. That was the last lead the Mountaineers had for the game as Eric Thompson hit a layup to put Southern Oregon ahead 36-35.

Once the Raiders took the lead they continued to extend it as Southern Oregon went on a 11-2 run to take an 10 point lead, 47-37, with 11:54 to go in the game. Eastern Oregon continued to trim the Raiders lead down and after one of Tucker's four three pointers of the game found themselves down five points, 51-46.

EOU continued to battle and after the Raiders extend its lead back to seven points, 53-46, EOU trimmed it down to four points, 53-49, after an old fashion three point play by Eackles. This would be as close as the Mountaineers would get in the contest as the Raiders extended its lead to double-figures, 65-55, after a Dex Daum layup.

The Mountaineers never cut the Raiders lead to single-digits for the remainder of the game and Southern Oregon grew the lead to as many as 18 points late in the second half. Eastern Oregon was defeated by Southern Oregon, 80-65.

Eastern Oregon returns to action on Friday Jan. 31 when they host Warner Pacific at Quinn Coliseum. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30.