Box Score SALEM, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University men's basketball team struggled from the free throw line on Friday night but the Mountaineers came through at the line when they needed to and held onto a 68-65 victory over Corban.
EOU shot 13-for-24 from the free throw line for the contest but were four-for-six in the final 17 seconds of the game to secure the win.
Kyllian Wood led the Mountaineers with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
Tony Eackles Jr. followed with 14 points.
The Mountaineers and Warriors offenses came out shooting the ball cold as both teams were held to four points, over the first three minutes of the contest. After the game was tied at 4-4, the Warriors scored the next five points to take a 9-4 lead.
Corban continued to add to its lead and grew the lead to six points, 12-6, after an old fashion three point play by Jordan Carter. The Mountaineers slowly started to chip away and a three pointer by
Kevin Attila cut the Warrior lead to one point, 12-11 with 13 minutes to go before halftime.
The Mountaineers continued to battle and after four straight points by
Kyllian Wood the Mountaineers took a one point lead, 17-16, for its first lead since they led 4-2. After taking the lead the Mountaineers continued to extend its lead and a three pointer by
Trevor Phillips put EOU on top by six points, 22-16.
Corban would not go away as they continued to battle and cut the lead down to one point, 22-21. The Mountaineers had an answer and extend its lead to five points, 27-22, after a
Craig Tucker three pointer. However, the Warriors battled back to tie the game at 27-27.
After the Warriors tied the game at 27-27, the Mountaineers closed out the first half on a 9-2 run to take a 36-29 lead into halftime.
The Mountaineers and Warriors both were scoreless for the first two minutes of the second half. EOU broke onto the scoreboard after Wood hit a free throw. Eastern Oregon held the Warriors for another two minutes before they scored its first bucket of the half, which cut the Mountaineers lead down to eight points, 39-31.
EOU grew its lead to 11 points, 44-33, after Deonta Ewards hit a three pointer. After the Warriors trimmed the lead to nine points but EOU answered right back as Eackles hit a three pointer to put EOU back on top by double-figures, 12 points, 47-35.
Corban continued to battle and keep the game close, as they trimmed the lead down seven points, 47-40, on an old fashion three point play by Josiah Sebens. Eastern Oregon battled back and built its lead back to ten points, 52-42, after a Tucker three pointer. However, the Warriors would not go away and cut the six points after Toby Roth hit a pair of free throws.
The Warriors continued to battle and after a jumper by Sebens, EOU's lead was cut to five points, 53-48. Eastern Oregon continued to hold a lead around five points, 55-50. Edwards extended the Mountaineers lead to seven points, 57-50, after he took a pass from Attila on his way to the hoop for a dunk.
Eastern Oregon could not pull away from the Warriors for long as Corban continued to battle and cut the lead down to three points, 59-56, after a pair of free throws by Roth. The Mountaineers continued to lead and led by three points, 68-65, with four seconds remaining in the game but Corban's last second shot fell short and EOU came away with a 68-65 victory.
The Mountaineers return to action tomorrow when they travel to Eugene, Ore. to face Northwest Christian University. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
