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Max McCullough
60
Winner Eastern Oregon EOU 16-13
56
Northwest (Wash.) NW 18-11
Winner
Eastern Oregon EOU
16-13
60
Final
56
Northwest (Wash.) NW
18-11
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Eastern Oregon EOU 27 33 60
Northwest (Wash.) NW 28 28 56

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Iain Dexter, EOU Sports Information Director

Mounties Down Northwest 60-56 to Reach CCC Semifinals

KIRKLAND, Wash. – The Eastern Oregon men's basketball team advanced to the semifinals of the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, with a gritty 60-56 road victory over Northwest University on Wednesday night.
 
The Mountaineers (16-13) moved past the quarterfinals for the first time since the 2016-17 season and will face longtime rival and No. 1-ranked College of Idaho on Saturday at 7 p.m. Mountain time in Caldwell, Idaho.
 
Boasting the sixth ranked offense in the NAIA, the Blue and Gold used a great defensive effort on Saturday night to defeat the No. 4-seeded Eagles (18-11) for a second time in a row. EOU limited Northwest to a 36 percent shooting percentage with just five made three-pointers and only 11 trips to the free throw line.
 
The Mountaineers were led by senior Jarek Schetzle's 18 points, six rebounds and two blocks. Junior Max McCullough added 15 points and senior Landon Jones finished with 12 points and eight boards. Junior Brandon Porter scored seven points, sophomore Zane Wright added six and junior Jamal Heckard led the team with five assists with six rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
A low scoring first half saw EOU with the largest lead of the first 20 minutes at 16-11 with 12:18 to play. The Eagles scored the next six points to take a 17-16 advantage. The rest of the half was back-and-forth with Northwest leading 28-27 heading into the halftime locker room.
 
The second half featured three more tie scores in the early going, but with the score tied at 42, the Mountaineers picked up the next basket with 12:34 and never saw their lead slip away for the rest of the game. EOU extended their advantage out to a game-high seven point lead at 55-48 with 4:04 left, utilizing the defense the rest of the way to keep Northwest at bay.
 
With 31 seconds left, the Eagles got a three pointer to cut EOU's lead to four points. However, a foul sent the Mounties' best free-throw shooter to the line in McCullough, who sunk both his free throws with 19 seconds left to make it 60-54 in favor of Eastern. The Eagles answered with a two-pointer of their own, but did not score another point as EOU left with the 60-56 road upset.  
 
BY THE NUMBERS
16 – The Mountaineers finished with 16 assists to just seven turnovers.
4 – EOU made only four trips to the free-throw line, all coming in the final minute of the game.
22 – Tough defense from the Mountaineers limited the Eagles to just 22 made field goals on the night.
 
NEXT UP
The Mountaineers will get a third opportunity to take on No. 1-ranked College of Idaho, Saturday at 7 p.m. Mountain time in the CCC semifinals.
 
For more information on Eastern Oregon men's basketball, follow @EOUAthletics or visit eousports.com.
 
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Contact: Iain Dexter; 541-962-3946; idexter@eou.edu
 
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