OLYMPIA, Wash. – After Evergreen erased a 12-point deficit to take the late lead, sixth-ranked Southern Oregon retook the lead with 38 second left as the Raiders held on for an 80-76 win over the upset-minded Geoducks in a Cascade Conference men’s basketball game on Friday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

The nationally-ranked Raiders took control early but the Geoducks were determined to keep it close and they did just that.  After SOU held the lead for much of the half, Evergreen tied it up on a jumper by Kyle Calhoun (Seattle, Wash./Hazen HS/Marshalltown CC) with 3:58 to play in the opening period.  The Raiders pushed the pace the last few minutes, taking a 42-35 lead heading into the break.

In the second half, the Raiders looked like they might pull away as the lead hit 12 points with 10:54 left to play but the Geoducks weren’t going to give up that easily.  A 14-2 Evergreen run tied the game at 65-65 with 7:11 left to play and a three-pointer by Calhoun with six minutes left put the Geoducks up by one, 68-67.

Evergreen continued to chase the upset win, holding a lead heading into the final minute before SOU’s Tim Weber hit a three-pointer with 38 seconds left to go and the Raiders hit their free throws down the stretch, earning the 80-76 win.

“I’m proud of the heart our guys played with tonight,” said head coach Arvin Mosley. “ I think we really embodied the ‘fear the clam’ mentality that we have preached all season long.”

Evergreen was led by 16 points from Dre Taylor (Seattle, Wash./Garfield HS/North Idaho College.  Marc Taylor (Boise, Idaho/Skyview HS/Edmonds CC) and Calhoun each added 15 points.  Sophomore Frankie Johnson (Renton, Wash./Hazen HS) added 11 points and nine assists in the tight loss. The Geoducks shot just five free throws on the night, compared with 17 for the Raiders.

Southern Oregon was led by a monster game from 38 points from Eric Thompson.  David Sturner added 13 points and 10 rebounds to earn the double-double.  Jacob Kaler added 10 points in the win.  The Raiders shot 50% on the night, making 27-of-54 attempts from the field.

The Geoducks will be in action again on Saturday night when they play host to Oregon Tech.  Tip with the Hustlin’ Owls is set for 7:30 p.m. in Olympia, Wash.

Box Score

KIRKLAND, Wash. – The Evergreen Geoducks put up a valiant effort early but the Northwest Eagles were victorious when the final buzzer sounded, winning 87-73 in a Cascade Conference men’s basketball game on Saturday night at NU Pavilion in Kirkland, Wash.

The Geoducks came out ready to play in the first half, leading the nationally-ranked Eagles, 14-8, just over five minutes into the game.  Northwest tied it up at the 12:42 mark on a second-chance jumper in the paint by Michael Russo.  Evergreen kept it tight as the two teams traded leads for most of the half until NU extended the lead late, taking the 44-32 advantage into the break.

In the second half, the Geoducks came out fighting yet again as Evergreen matched NU nearly point-for-point.  Unfortunately for Evergreen, the host Eagles never let the Geoducks get close enough to be in contention for the win as Northwest earned the 87-73 win.

Evergreen was led by a game-high 23 points from Kyle Calhoun (Seattle, Wash./HazenHS/Marshalltown CC).  Marc Taylor (Boise, Idaho/Skyview HS/Edmonds CC) added 14 points to go with nine rebounds while Jordan Dam (Tacoma, Wash./Wilson HS/Centralia CC) added 12 points in the loss.  The Geoducks shot 42.0% on the night, making 29-of-69 attempts from the field.

Northwest was led by 16 points from Russo.  Ryan McIntosh added 15 while Michael Greene finished with 14 points for the Eagles.  Dak Shagren came off the bench to score 13 points as the NU bench outscored Evergreen, 35-16.

The Geoducks return to Olympia for the first time in 2014 on Friday night when they play host to nationally-ranked Southern Oregon.  Tip with the Raiders, currently ranked second in the NAIA DII Top 25, is set for 7:30 p.m. at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. – Taking on their fourth NCAA Division I opponent of the season, the Evergreen Geoducks battled tough with the Portland State Vikings before giving up a late run in a 98-65 exhibition loss on Monday afternoon at the Stott Center in Portland, Ore.

The Geoducks and Vikings matched up well early as Evergreen  used a 7-0 run to take a two point lead on a jumper by Kyle Calhoun (Seattle, Wash./Hazen HS/Marshalltown CC) that put the score at 10-8 Geoducks with 14:43 left in the opening half. The Vikings, members of the Big Sky Conference, eventually retook the lead, heading into halftime up by 16 at 47-31.

Evergreen came out of the locker rooms shooting lights out as the green-clad Geoducks used a 14-5 run to cut the gap to seven points with 15:29 left to play following a jumper by senior Marc Taylor (Boise, Idaho/Skyview HS/Edmonds CC).  Unfortunately the Geoducks hot shooting cooled off about the same time that the Vikings found their shot again as Portland State cruised to the 98-65 win.

Evergreen was led by 15 points from Calhoun.  The Geoducks stayed in the game thanks to 11 three-point baskets but were given little opportunity for free points, attempting just seven free throws on the night.  On the other side of the hardwood, Portland State attempted 33 free throws as the Geoducks were whistled for 24 fouls, compared with just 14 for the Viks.

Portland State was led by 21 points from Aaron Moore.  Tim Douglas added 16 points while Andrew Winston and Marcus Hall each finished with 13 points on the afternoon.  The Vikings shot 54.5% on the game, making 36 of 66 attempts from the field.

The Geoducks take a break for the holidays before returning to Cascade Conference play on Jan. 4 at Northwest.  Tip with the Eagles is set for 7:30 p.m. at NU Pavilion in Kirkland, Wash.

Box Score

EUGENE, Ore. – The Evergreen Geoducks cut a nine-point halftime deficit to just one point midway through the second half but the Northwest Christian Beacons held on for the win, 68-55, in a Cascade Conference men’s basketball game on Saturday night at Morse Event Center in Eugene, Ore.

In the first half, the Beacons busted out to a double-digit lead less than six minutes into the game as the Geoducks struggled shooting and couldn’t get any free points, going without a free throw attempt all half.  After NCU held the 10+ point lead for much of the half, the Geoducks cut the Beacon lead to nine on a layup by Dre Taylor (Seattle, Wash./Garfield HS/North Idaho College) with eight seconds left that put the halftime score at 32-23 in favor of Northwest Christian.

In the second half, the Geoducks came out hustling as a three-pointer by senior KJ Hong (Federal Way, Wash./Decatur HS/Shoreline CC) with 9:57 left to play put Evergreen back just one point at 43-42.  Travis Pacos hit a jumper for NCU 16 seconds later and the Beacons would go on a 13-2 run to put them back up by 12 points.  Northwest Christian would maintain control the rest of the way, earning the 68-55 win.

Evergreen was led by 20 points off the bench from Taylor.  Kyle Calhoun (Seattle, Wash./Hazen HS/Marshalltown CC) added 15 points in the loss.  The Geoducks shot 34.4% from the field, making 21 of 61 attempts, and attempted just 10 free throws all night, compared with 25 for NCU.

Northwest Christian was led by 20 points and nine rebounds from Pacos.  Spencer Coleman and Coleton Baker added 15 points in the win.  NCU shot 44.2% on the night, making 23 of 52 attempts, but the Beacons were truly aided by 19 of 25 shooting from the charity stripe for 76%.

Evergreen returns to Oregon on Monday afternoon for a matinee exhibition against NCAA Division I Portland State.  Tip with the Vikings is set for 2:05 p.m. at the Stott Center in Portland, Ore.

Box Score

SALEM, Ore. – Combining for 52 free throw attempts, the Corban Warriors proved victorious in a physical affair over the Evergreen Geoducks, winning the Cascade Conference men’s basketball game, 75-71, on Friday night at C.E. Jeffers Sports Center in Salem, Ore.

In the first half, the Geoducks did a good job taking care of the ball as Evergreen committed just two turnovers over the first 20 minutes.  Unfortunately for the Geoducks, Corban turned those two giveaways into five points and shot 50.0% from the field to take a 38-35 lead into the halftime break.

Corban used an 8-0 run to open the second half as they pushed the lead into double-digits but the Geoducks dug deep and fought back, pulling back within four points about midway through the period.  The Warriors pushed the lead back to 10 with 7:08 left to go following a pair of free throws by Jordan Carter.  Back-to-back buckets by Frankie Johnson (Renton, Wash./Hazen HS) and Marc Taylor (Boise, Idaho/Skyview HS/Edmonds CC) cut the deficit to five points just over a minute later.

After an exchange of free throws, Dre Taylor (Seattle, Wash./Garfield HS/North Idaho College) hit a three-pointer to pull Evergreen back within three points at 67-64 with just over three minutes to play.  Johnson hit a pair of free throws with 1:23 left to go to put the Geoducks within one point at 72-71. Toby Roth turned the ball over for Corban with 31 seconds left to give Evergreen the last possession but the Geoducks turned the ball over as the Warriors hit a pair of free throws with just a second left to escape with the 75-71 win.

Evergreen was led by 21 points off the bench from Dre Taylor, who was making his Geoduck debut.  Johnson finished with 13 points while Mark Taylor added 11.  Kyle Calhoun (Seattle, Wash./Hazen HS/Marshalltown CC) put up 10 points to round out the Geoducks in double-digit scoring.

Corban was led by 18 points from Caleb Herzberg. Carter added 14 points while Roth finished with 13 in the win.  The Warriors won the game on the foul line, making 19 of 28 attempts as the teams combined for 44 personal fouls on the night.

The Geoducks return to action on Saturday night as they visit Northwest Christian.  Tip with the Beacons is set for 7:30 p.m. at Morse Event Center in Eugene, Ore.

Box Scores