OLYMPIA, Wash. – One night after earning their first win of 2011, The Evergreen State Geoducks didn’t quite have enough juice to make it two in a row, falling to the Warner Pacific Knights, 82-73, in a Cascade Collegiate Conference men’s basketball game on Saturday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.
The game stayed close for the first few minutes of the contest as the Knights (12-7, 5-4 CCC) held a brief lead but the Geoducks (6-13, 3-6 CCC) kept it close. WPC blew the game open midway through the half, going on a 12-0 run to grab a comfortable lead. Evergreen got back within single-digits just before the half as senior Johnny Sarsyz (Seattle, Wash./South Puget Sound CC) hit a three-pointer as Warner Pacific took a 39-30 lead into the half.
Sarsyz led the way for both teams in the opening period, scoring 15 of Evergreen’s 30 points in the opening period, all coming from behind the three-point arc. The Geoducks also found themselves in foul trouble in the first half, being whistled for 10 violations, compared with just four fouls for the Knights.
In the second half, it looked for the first few minutes like Evergreen might make it a game but some key three-pointers by the Knights extended the lead back into the teens. Evergreen finally found a way to cool off the hot shooting of Warner Pacific but the ball continued to bounce the Knights’ way as the Geoducks couldn’t play their way back into the contest as WPC picked up the 82-73 win.
Evergreen was led by the 15 first-half points from Sarsyz, who was held scoreless in the second period. Junior Marice Tolliver (Tacoma, Wash./Lower Columbia CC) came off the bench to add 14 points and 10 rebounds for the double-double. Tyrell Dixon (Tacoma, Wash./Mount Tahoma HS) and Mikey Hope (Tacoma, Wash./Wilson) each added 11 points in the losing effort.
The Knights were led by 17 points from Webster Moreland, who also had a team-high eight rebounds on the night. Andrew Davis finished with 14 points while Sean Gaines added 13 points in the win. As a team, the Knights held the advantage on the glass, outrebounding the Geoducks, 50-44.
The Geoducks hit the road next week, traveling down to Northwest Christian to open up the second half of CCC play. Tip-off with the Beacons is set for 7:30 p.m. in Eugene, Ore.
Game Stats
Upcoming Games
- January 21 Fri @ Northwest Christian 7:30pm
- January 22 Sat @ Corban 7:30pm
- January 28 Fri @ Northwest University 7:30pm
