LA GRANDE, Ore. - Eastern Oregon Men's Basketball tipped off its home opener Friday evening in Quinn Coliseum, securing a hard-fought 73-69 victory over Carroll College in an overtime battle.

The first half set the tone for a closely contested matchup, with both teams deadlocked at 34 points each by halftime. Malachi Afework played a pivotal role in securing the victory, extending the game into overtime with a clutch last-second layup and ultimately sealing the win from the free-throw line. The team's defense proved pivotal throughout the contest, limiting Carroll to 36.5% shooting from the field.

Garrett Hawkes led a balanced offensive attack for the Mounties with a 23-point performance, connecting five times from beyond the arc. It was also a breakout game for Brennen Newsom, recording an impressive double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Afework impacted both ends of the court with 15 points and 3 steals, while Preston Chandler finished the contest with 7 points and an equal number of rebounds.

Andrew Cook scored 18 points for Carroll, while Zane Foster added 6 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 blocks.

The Mounties will return to action tomorrow evening at 4:30 p.m., set to take on the Bulldogs of Montana Western for the second time this season.