ASHLAND, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University men's basketball team fell to No. 16 Southern Oregon University, 114-104, in overtime on Friday evening. De'Sean Mattox led the way with a game-high 42 points.
 
This is the second-consecutive game that Mattox has scored over 40 plus points in. In the game, Mattox was 6-for-13 from behind the arc and was 18-of-22 from the free throw line. Bryan McGriff added 31 for the Mountaineers (9-3, 2-1 CCC).
 
Jordan West led the Raiders (12-2, 2-1 CCC), with a career-high 27 points on 12-of-15 shooting. Tim Weber recorded his third triple-double of the season. Weber finished with 25 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.
 
The Mountaineers and Raiders were in for a battle as there were five ties in the first half of the contest. Over the first six minutes of the contest, there were two ties and seven lead changes. After a layup by Michael Crane, the Mountaineers held a one point lead, 16-15.
 
After Crane's layup the Raiders offense started to heat up and they slowly built a lead of four, 24-20, after a West layup. The Mountaineers continued to keep the game close and after a pair of McGriff free throws, the game was tied for the fourth time of the half at 25-25.
 
Southern Oregon responded by taking a six point lead, 32-26, after an Eric Thompson three-pointer. The lead did not last long for the Raiders as EOU answered with an 8-1 run, putting EOU back on top, 34-33. The Raiders and Mountaineers traded leads and with 23 seconds left in the half, Austin Strock hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 41-41, heading into halftime.
 
Like the first half, both teams traded leads and after the first three minutes of the second half, the game was tied at 50-50. Southern Oregon took multiple leads of four points but EOU answered right back each time, tying the game up. With 14:41 left in the half, Crane tied the game at 56-56 with a layup.
 
With the game tied, Southern Oregon went on a 15-7 run, taking a 71-63 lead over the Mountaineers with 9:58 remaining in the contest. Five straight free throws for Mattox cut the Raiders lead down to three points, 71-68.
 
EOU continued to battle back in the second half and after a free throw by Mattox, the Mountaineers and Raiders were tied at 75-75, with 6:15 remaining in the game. The game stayed close for the reminder of the contest and West tied the game for the 12th time at 83-83.
 
On the Mountaineers next possession, Mattox hit a three-pointer, giving EOU a three point lead. EOU slowly built a lead of four points, 91-87, the biggest lead of the second half, after another Mattox three-pointer. EOU could not hold onto the lead as the Raiders scored six of the final eight points of the half, tying the game at 93-93 and forcing overtime.
 
In overtime, the Raiders slowly started pull away from the Mountaineers. With the game tied at, 97-97, Southern Oregon opened up a four point lead, 102-98, after Thompson recorded five points for the Raiders. The Mountaineers closed the gap to one, 102-101, after a Strock three pointer, but EOU could not regain the lead and Southern Oregon grew their lead to ten points in overtime. EOU was defeated by Southern Oregon, 114-104.
 
The Mountaineers return to action tomorrow, Dec. 20 when they travel to Klamath Falls, Ore. to face Oregon Tech. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.