Geoducks Go Wire-to-Wire in 81-66 Win over Warriors

OLYMPIA, Wash. – After Cody Peters (Oak Harbor, Wash./Coupeville HS/Western Oregon Univ.) gave Evergreen a 2-0 lead just over a minute into the game, the Geoducks never looked back, leading the rest of the way en route to an 81-66 win over the Corban Warriors in a Cascade Conference men’s basketball game on Saturday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

The Geoducks came out ready to play and it showed as Corban was held to just three points over the first five minutes.  The Warriors eventually found their touch and pulled with two points with just over five minutes to play in the first half before the Geoducks extended the lead again, taking a six-point advantage into halftime at 39-33.

In the second half, Evergreen pushed the lead into double-digits on a layup by Jordan Dam (Tacoma, Wash./Wilson HS/Centralia CC) with 15:13 to go that put the score at 52-42. Corban fought back to get back within six at 66-60 but a 14-0 Evergreen run put the Geoducks up by 20 with 55 seconds to play and they cruised the rest of the way, earning the 81-66 win.

Evergreen was led by 33 points from Dre Taylor (Seattle, Wash./Garfield HS/North Idaho College), who connected on 11-of-14 shots, including six-for-seven from behind the arc.  Dam added 21 points on the night while Marc Taylor (Boise, Idaho/Skyview HS/Edmonds CC) added 12 points in the win.  The Geoducks held a 35-30 advantage on the glass as they earned their second CCC win of the season.

Corban was led by 21 points from Jordan Carter.  Caleb Herzberg added 14 points in the loss to round out the Warriors in double-digit scoring.  The visitors connected on 27-of-59 attempts on the night or 45.8%, including eight-for-17 from behind the arc.

The Geoducks remain home next Saturday when they play host to in-state rival Northwest.  Tip with the Eagles is set for 7:30 p.m. at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

Box Score

Beacons Hold Off Geoducks, 78-73

OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Evergreen Geoducks sank eight three pointers in the second half but they couldn’t complete the comeback, falling to the Northwest Christian Beacons, 78-73, in a Cascade Conference men’s basketball game on Friday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

The Geoducks stayed with the Beacons early but went cold midway through the period, allowing Northwest Christian to build a double-digit lead.  The Beacon lead grew to as many as 13 before a jumper by Marc Taylor (Boise, Idaho/Skyview HS/Edmonds CC) with four seconds left to play to put the score at 31-20 at the halftime break.

Evergreen came out of the locker room strong and cut the lead to two points with 10:51 left to play on a free throw by Cody Peters (Oak Harbor, Wash./Coupeville HS/Western Oregon Univ.) that put the score at 47-45.  The Beacons pushed the lead back into double-digits with 1:58 left to play but the Geoduck continued to fight, pushing the differential back to three points with 38 seconds left to play but Evergreen couldn’t close the gap any further, falling 78-73.

The Geoducks were led by 30 points from Frankie Johnson (Renton, Wash./Hazen HS).  Marc Taylor added 17 points while Dre Taylor (Seattle, Wash./Garfield HS) added 16 points to go with six assists.

Northwest Christian was led by 23 points from Coleton Baker, who earned 11 of those points from the charity stripe.  Spencer Coleman added 15 points while Javonte Bird earned the double-double with 13 points and 13 assists. Forest Stolk rounded out the Geoducks in double-digit scoring, adding 10 points on the night.

Evergreen returns to action on Saturday night, hosting Corban.  Tip with the Warriors is set for 7:30 p.m. at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

Box Score

Knights Battle Past Geoducks, 79-70

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Evergreen Geoducks erased a second-half doubleheader but the Warner Pacific Knights proved victorious, 79-70, in a Cascade Conference men’s basketball game on Saturday night at C.C. Perry Gymnasium in Portland, Ore.

The first half was a tight one as the Geoducks and Knights seemed to match either other shot for shot with neither team allowing the other to build much of a lead. A 12-2 run over the final four minutes of the half allowed Warner Pacific to take a double-digit lead into the break at 45-33.

Warner Pacific pushed the lead to 16 points with just over 17 minutes to play and it looked like WPC might cruise to victory but the Geoducks didn’t give up, digging deep and battling back to within one point on a three ball by Jordan Dam (Tacoma, Wash./Wilson HS/Centralia CC) with 10:11 left to play.  Unfortunately for Evergreen, they would be unable to regain the lead as Warner Pacific held on for the 79-70 win.

Evergreen was led by 19 points from Dam.  Cody Peters (Oak Harbor, Wash./Coupeville HS/Western Oregon) and Dre Taylor (Seattle, Wash./Garfield HS/North Idaho College) each added 13 points while Kyle Calhoun(Seattle, Wash./Hazen HS/Marshalltown CC) added 11 points in the loss.

Warner Pacific was led by 19 points from Doug Thomas.  Ryan Parks added 16, including five three-pointers, while Marcus Moore finished with 13 points on the night.  Josh Black rounded out the Knights in double-digit scoring with 10 points.

The Geoducks look to bounce back on Friday night when they host Northwest Christian.  Tip with the Beacons is set for 7:30 p.m. at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

Box Score

Evergreen Falls in High-Scoring Affair at Concordia, 103-92

PORTLAND, Ore. – Looking to win their second straight, the Evergreen Geoducks gave it everything they had but couldn’t get the victory, falling to the Concordia Cavaliers, 103-92, in a Cascade Conference men’s basketball game on Friday night at Cavalier Gymnasium in Portland, Ore.

After Concordia, who is among those receiving votes in the latest NAIA Division II Top 25, took the early lead on Evergreen, the Geoducks tightened their belts and got back into it. With the lead changed 12 times in the opening half, Evergreen used a layup by Marc Taylor (Boise, Idaho/Skyview HS/Edmonds CC) with six seconds left to take the 47-43 lead into halftime.

The Geoducks held onto the lead over the opening minutes of the second period until a three-pointer by Tyler Velasquez tied it up at 54-54 and then two possessions later, Adam Herman hit a pair of free throws to put the Cavs up by two with 13:24 left on the clock.  Concordia pushed the lead to double-digits with 9:24 left to go and the high-scoring Cavs held on for the win, 103-92.

Evergreen was led by 33 points from Kyle Calhoun (Seattle, Wash./Hazen HS/Marshalltown CC), including eight three-pointers.  Dre Taylor (Seattle, Wash./Garfield HS/North Idaho College) added 16 points while Marc Taylor finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds to earn the double-double. The Geoducks held a slight advantage on the glass, outrebounding Concordia 37 to 36.

Concordia was led by 29 points from Velasquez.  Herman finished with 22 points, with 14 of those coming on free throws, while Anthony Holton finished with 15 points.  Willy Ligon came off the bench to score 14 points and Esvan Middleton earned the double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds to round out the Cavaliers in double-digit scoring.

The Geoducks will look to get a win on Saturday night as they remain in Portland to take on Warner Pacific.  Tip with the Knights is set for 7:30 p.m. at C.C. Perry Gymnasium.

Box Score

Geoducks Get First CCC Win over Oregon Tech, 90-87

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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