SALEM, Ore. - Eastern Oregon men's basketball successfully fended off a late surge from the Corban Warriors, securing a 68-64 victory in Salem.
The Mounties, maintaining a six-point lead with just 50 seconds remaining, weathered a 5-point swing triggered by a made three-pointer from Collin Warmouth and a rebounding foul that narrowed the lead to one.
Malachi Afework drove into the lane and converted a tough bucket through contact, extending the lead to three for the Mounties. Strong defense from the Mounties would ultimately close out the contest and prevent the game tying attempts.
Rebounds favored Corban with 37 compared to Eastern Oregon's 32, while the Mountaineers exhibited superior ball movement with 11 assists to the Warriors's 8. Turnovers played a crucial role and the Mounties capitalized, scoring 17 points off 19 forced turnovers.
Freshman
Kamal Muhammad stood out for Eastern Oregon, showcasing remarkable efficiency with a 71% shooting accuracy. Muhammad's 14 points off the bench played a crucial role in the Mounties victory, while Aj Huddleston led the team with 18 points, including four three-pointers.
On the Corban side, reigning CCC Player of the Week Jay Wilson emerged as the top performer, tallying a game-high 22 points along with five rebounds. Despite Wilson's consistent scoring and 10 points from Aundree Polk, the Warriors couldn't secure the win.
The Mountaineers will next return to Quinn Coliseum for their matchup with the Geoducks of Evergreen State, scheduled to tip-off on Friday.
