CALDWELL, Idaho – The Eastern Oregon University men's basketball team's second half comeback against Arizona Christian University fell just a bit short on Saturday evening. EOU was defeated by Arizona Christian, 82-81, on the second day of the Taco Bell Shootout.
 
De'Sean Mattox led all scorers with 32 points. Bryan McGriff followed 21 points. Case Rada rounded out the double figure scorers for EOU with 11 points. McGriff led the Mountaineers on the glass, as he collected 12 rebounds.
 
Eastern Oregon struggled in the first half of the contest against Arizona Christian. EOU shot 28.6 percent from the floor, while the Firestorm could not miss and shot 55.2 percent. Five minutes into the contest, Arizona Christian held a four point lead, 12-8 over the Mountaineers.
 
The Mountaineers continued to battle and kept the game close as they never let the Firestorm get a lead bigger than eight points for the first 13 minutes of the contest. However, to close out the half, Arizona Christian's offense caught fire and closed out the half on a 24-9 run to take a 48-29 lead at halftime.
 
The Firestorm extended their lead to 21 points, 50-29, in the first 30 seconds of the second half. This was the largest lead of the game for the Firestorm. EOU began to mount their comeback and went on a 21-6 run to trim the Firestorm's lead down to four points, 54-50.
 
After the Mountaineers trimmed the lead to four points, Arizona Christian scored the next six points to take a 10 point lead, 60-50. EOU slowly cut the Firestorm's lead to six points but Arizona Christian again extended the game back to ten points, 66-56.
 
With EOU down ten points, Mattox scored eight straight points to bring EOU within four points, 66-62, with 7:25 left in the game. Three minutes later, Mattox would give Eastern Oregon their first lead of the game, 75-74.
 
The final four minutes of the game went back and forth as neither team took a lead greater than one point. With the game tied at 80-80, Mattox hit a free throw putting EOU ahead by one point, 81-80. However, the Firestorm took the ball down the court and was fouled and Sharif Watson made both free throws putting Arizona Christian on top, 82-81.
 
The Mountaineers had one last chance as they brought the ball down the court, but Mattox's shot was no good and EOU fell, 82-81, to Arizona Christian.
 
The Mountaineers return to action on Friday, Nov. 14 when they travel to Moscow, Idaho to face the University of Idaho in an exhibition contest. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.