ASHLAND, Ore. – Playing its first game as a top-five team this season, the No. 5 EOU men's basketball team took to the road to battle in-state rival Southern Oregon. Senior forward Bryan McGriff carded 30 points and 10 rebounds but it wasn't enough as the Blue and Gold fell, 97-94.
 
The Raiders snapped both EOU's 10 game win streak, as well as its undefeated record in the CCC. The Mountaineers outrebounded the Raiders 36-29, however both teams shot the lights out with Southern Oregon (12-7, 6-3 CCC), shooting 55 percent compared to the Mounties 52.2 percent.
 
Senior guard Kentrell Washington shot 7-for-14 on the night, scoring 19 points while grabbing six rebounds and tossing two assists. Junior wing Austin Winegar added 13 more points as the Weiser, Idaho native went 5-for-5 in Ashland.
 
After connecting on his first three treys of the game McGriff and EOU (15-3, 8-1 CCC), found themselves with an 11-6 lead just four and a half minutes into the first stanza. The Raiders then answered with a 7-4 run, cutting the lead to only two, 15-13.
 
With five minutes remaining in the first, EOU finished a 6-3 run with a tip-in from senior forward Michael Hillman (27-23). However, the Raiders finished the first with a 10-0 run, including a buzzer-beating three to take a 35-34 lead into the break.
 
Into the second, the Blue and Gold finally retook the lead 43-42 with 17 minutes to play thanks to a jumper from Winegar. Yet, the Raiders answered right back with a lay-up from Tristen Holmes (43-44).
 
As the 10-minute mark approached, Southern Oregon drilled a pair of free throws retaking the lead 62-61, before junior guard Blake O'Donnell laid the ball in the hoop retaking the lead for the Mountaineers (63-62).
 
A pair of Southern Oregon free throws gave the Raiders a seven-point lead with just six and a half minutes to play (71-78). EOU cut the Raider lead to only two points, 90-92 with a huge three-pointer from McGriff with a minute to play but it'd be as close as the Mountaineers would get. A desperation three came from McGriff clipped the backboard and rim from just inside half-court as the final buzzer rang.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
11 – Double-doubles on the season for McGriff.
13 – Points from Winegar who shot 5-for-5 on the night.
65 – Combined rebounds between the Raiders and EOU.  
 
UP NEXT
EOU closes the weekend tomorrow at Oregon Tech. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. To follow live stats/video, click here.

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