ASHLAND, Ore. – Putting together a strong 40 minutes, the Evergreen Geoducks nearly earned an upset win but it was the 14th-ranked Southern Oregon Raiders picking up the win, 77-70, in a Cascade Conference men’s basketball game on Friday night in Ashland, Ore.

The Geoducks came to play in the first half as the visiting squad took a 5-0 lead less than 30 seconds in following a three-pointer by Travis Wagner (Federal Way, Wash./Green River HS) and a jumper by freshman Michael Potter (Ridgefield, Wash./Ridgefield HS).  SOU eventually started making shots but Evergreen was right there with them.

The Raiders eventually began to pull away, thanks to some strong shooting from Eric Thompson and Kyle Tedder as the lead hit double-digits with 5:05 on the clock following a free throw by Thompson.  Southern Oregon eventually pushed the lead to 15 points at the break, leading 44-29.

In the second half, the Geoducks continued to battle and it paid off as the differential slowly shrunk.  Evergreen managed to get back within single-digits with about six minutes left to play as Marc Taylor (Boise, Idaho/Edmonds CC) put in a pair to put the score at 66-58.  Frankie Johnson (Renton, Wash./Hazen HS) hit a crucial three-pointer a few possessions later that pulled the Geoducks within six at 69-63 heading into the final minutes.

The Geoducks continued to try to chip away but the Raiders found a way to survive the upset attempt, picking up the 77-70 win.

Evergreen was led by 16 points from Johnson, who also had six assists on the night.  Taylor added 12 points to his season totals while Cody Peters (Coupeville, Wash./Western Oregon Univ.) and Elzie Dickens (Seattle, Wash./Highline CC) each added 10.  The Geoducks held a slight advantage on the glass, outrebounding SOU by a final of 37-34.

Southern Oregon was led by 18 points from Thompson.  David Sturner added 17 points to go with 10 rebounds for SOU while Tedder finished with 14 points on the night.  Dex Daum added 13 points to round out the Raiders in double-digit scoring.  SOU picked up just 11 points from their bench, compared with 22 for the Geoducks.

The Geoducks will be in action again on Saturday night when they travel to Klamath Falls, Ore. to take on Oregon Tech.  Tip with the Owls is set for 7:30 p.m. on Danny Miles Court.

Box Score

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Never trailing in the game, the 14th-ranked Warner Pacific Knights took care of the Evergreen Geoducks, picking up a 74-40 in a Cascade Conference men’s basketball game on Saturday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

The Knights (15-4, 6-1 CCC) took the advantage on a three-pointer by Coletun Tarr just 15 seconds into the game and WPC wouldn’t look back.  The lead over the Geoducks (2-13, 1-6 CCC) hit double-digits with 11:59 left to go in the opening half as Jeremy Jones hit a three-pointer to give WPC the 20-8 lead.  Warner Pacific pushed the lead to 22 on yet another three-ball with 3:55 left as the Knights took a 43-15 lead into the halftime break.

The Geoducks competed well in the second half but it wasn’t enough to put together the comeback.  The WPC lead hit 30 with 16:06 left on the back end of a pair of free throws by Zac Compton and the differential would hover around that point the remainder of the way as Warner Pacific picked up the 74-40 win.

Evergreen, who picked up points from all nine players who saw minutes, was led by six points each from Marc Taylor (Boise, Idaho/Edmonds CC) and Frankie Johnson (Renton, Wash./Hazen HS).  Elzie Dickens (Seattle, Wash./Highline CC) had 10 rebounds from the Geoducks, playing 37 minutes for the home squad.

Warner Pacific was led by 17 points off the bench from Ryan Parks.  Stephen Harris earned the double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in just 23 minutes played.  The Knights were 41.7% from the field, making 25-of-60 attempts.

Evergreen heads south next weekend as they travel to Ashland, Ore. to take on Southern Oregon. Tip with the Raiders is set for 7:30 p.m. on Friday night.

Box Score

OLYMPIA, Wash. – A solid team effort led the Concordia Cavaliers past the Evergreen Geoducks, 84-65, in a Cascade Conference men’s basketball game on Friday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

The Cavaliers (7-8, 2-4 CCC) took the initial lead on a bucket by Robbie Jackson in the opening minute but the Geoducks (2-12, 1-5 CCC) put up a fight, trading leads with Concordia for much of the half.  After CU built a seven-point lead with 1:54 to go in the opening period, the Geoducks responded with six straight, including a three-pointer by freshman Frankie Johnson (Renton, Wash./Hazen HS) to trail but just one at the break, 40-39.

In the second half, the Cavaliers began to pull away as the lead hit double-digits with 14:38 left on the clock following a layup by Willy Ligon the gave the Cavs at 56-45 lead.   The Geoducks continued to fight but the Cavs continued a strong shooting night as Concordia left Olympia with the 84-65 win.

Evergreen was led by 16 points from Travis Wagner (Federal Way, Wash./Green River CC).  Johnson finished with 13 points on the night while Marc Taylor (Boise, Idaho/Edmonds CC) chipped in 12 points.  Senior Elzie Dickens III (Seattle, Wash./Highline CC) added 10 points and nine rebounds off the bench, nearly earning the double-double.

Concordia was led by 21 points from Adam Herman.  Ligon finished with 18 points in the win while Anthony Holton chalked up 14 points for the Cavs.  Kory Kirwan came off the bench to add 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds in 23 minutes played.  The Cavaliers shot 50.8% on the night, making 30-of-59 attempts from the field.

The Geoducks will look to secure an upset on Saturday night when they play host to 14th-ranked Warner Pacific.  Concordia travels to 21st-ranked Northwest with both games set for 7:30 p.m.

Box Score

CALDWELL, Idaho – The Evergreen Geoducks put up a valiant effort but couldn’t slip past the College of Idaho Yotes, falling 81-69 in a Cascade Conference men’s basketball game on Saturday night at the J.A. Albertson Center in Caldwell, Idaho.

College of Idaho got off to a quick start, putting up the first seven points of the game but the Geoducks fought back, using a three-pointer by KJ Hong (Federal Way, Wash./Shoreline CC) to tie the game at 13-13 with 13:34 left to play in the first half.  A jumper off the glass by Elzie Dickens III (Seattle, Wash./Highline CC) gave the Geoducks a 19-18 with 10:56 to go as the teams traded the lead seven more times the rest of the period as College of Idaho took a 39-36 lead into the break.

The Yotes began to pull away as the second half ticked down.  The C of I lead hit double-digits on a breakway dunk by Rodney Delgardo that gave the home squad a 53-42 lead.  The Yotes continued to hit shots but the Geoducks continued to battle, pulling within eight points on a three-pointer by Travis Wagner (Federal Way, Wash./Green River CC) with 3:33 left to play.

The Geoducks continued to pressure the Yotes the rest of the way but College of Idaho picked up the conference win, 81-69.

Evergreen was led by 12 points each from Wagner and Hong.  Marc Taylor (Boise, Idaho/Edmonds CC) put up 11 points and eight rebounds in the return to his home state.  The Geoducks held a 37-33 advantage on the boards.

College of Idaho was led by 21 points from Sydney Donaldson.  Miguel Rodriguez added 19 points while Taylor Pruett earned the double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds.  The Yotes shot 50.8% on the night, making 30-of-59 attempts from the field.

The Geoducks will be back in action next year when they play host to Concordia on Jan. 4.  Tip with the Cavaliers is set for 7:30 p.m. at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

Box Score