OLYMPIA, Wash. – A strong team effort from the first tip to the final buzzer propelled the Evergreen Geoducks to a 90-87 win over the visiting Oregon Tech Hustlin’ Owls in a Cascade Conference men’s basketball game on Saturday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

After a layup by Austin Flint gave Oregon Tech (11-9, 4-4 CCC) the initial lead, the Geoducks (2-12, 1-6 CCC) went on a 10-2 run as Evergreen showed the visiting Owls that they came to play.  With the scored tied for the 10th time at 31-31 with 5:52 left to play, the Geoducks controlled the pace the remainder of the half to take a 47-43 lead into the locker room.

Oregon Tech turned the tables in the second half as the Hustlin’ Owls couldn’t seem to miss as they pushed the lead to double-digits at 69-59 following a free throw by Flint with 11:11 left to play.  The Geoducks answered back with 17-3 run that put Evergreen up by four with 5:46 left to go.

Flint tied it up for the Owls with 4:21 left to go but senior Marc Taylor (Boise, Idaho/Skyview HS/Edmonds CC) hit a jumper in the paint on the next possession to give the Geoducks back the lead and they never looked back, leading the rest of the way en route to a 90-87 win.

“I’m proud of my guys for sticking together and playing for each other,” said Evergreen head coach Arvin Mosley “It’s been a tough season but they’ve definitely been committed to our team goals and committed to each other.”

The Evergreen win also meant that Oregon Tech head coach Danny Miles will have to wait one more week to earn career victory number 999.

“Even though OIT didn’t win, coach Miles has been one class act in my time at Evergreen and I look forward to making that congratulatory phone call when he eventually earns that 1000th career win,” added Mosley after the win.

Evergreen was led by 20 points from junior Dre Taylor (Seattle, Wash./Garfield HS/North Idaho College).  Frankie Johnson (Renton, Wash./Hazen HS) added 19 points and eight assists in the win while Kyle Calhoun (Seattle, Wash./Hazen HS/Marshalltown CC) added 16 points.  Marc Taylor finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds to collect the double-double.

Oregon Tech was led by 28 points from Flint, who was 11-of-18 from the field, including five-of-10 from long distance.  Josh Johnson added 19 points while Brandon Bautista added 12 points in the loss.  The Hustlin’ Owls made over half of their baskets from behind the three-point arc, sinking 16 three-points on the night.

The Geoducks will look to make it two in a row on Friday when they head down to Portland to take on Concordia.  Tip with the Cavaliers is set for 7:30 p.m.

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