OLYMPIA, Wash. – For the second straight meeting, the Evergreen Geoducks and Southern Oregon Raiders couldn’t settle it in regulation. For the second straight meeting, the home team proved victorious as the Geoducks picked up the 79-76 victory in a Cascade Collegiate men’s basketball game on Saturday night at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.
Using the confidence built during Friday’s near upset of nationally-ranked Oregon Tech, the Geoducks (8-16, 5-9 CCC) came out of the gate strong, pressuring the Raiders (13-12, 6-9 CCC) and taking the early lead. Southern Oregon took the lead with about 7:30 left to play on a three-pointer by Kyle Tedder and a 10-0 SOU run put the Raiders up with 5:30 left to go in the opening period.
Momentum shifted the way of the Geoducks as an 11-0 run put Evergreen back up by three in the span of two minutes. The teams battled the remaining minutes of the half but it was Evergreen who took the lead into the halftime break, 32-30. The Geoducks were led by nine points from juniors Larry Green (Seattle, Wash./Grays Harbor CC) and Marice Tolliver (Tacoma, Wash./Lower Columbia CC). SOU was led by nine points from Dex Daum.
In the second half, the Geoducks continued to lead early but the Raiders got back within one as the half entered the final ten minutes. SOU retook the lead with 5:43 left to play but a pair of free throws put Evergreen back on top on the next possession. Back to back baskets gave the Raiders a three point lead but with SOU up five, Tolliver hit a three-pointer to pull back within two points with 90 seconds left to play.
The Geoducks tied it up with about 47 left to play as Green hit a 10-foot jumper to draw the game at 64. Southern Oregon missed the layup on the next trip down the floor and Evergreen grabbed the rebound to give the home team a chance to win the game with 12.1 seconds on the clock. Freshman Mikey Hope (Tacoma, Wash./Wilson HS) went for the game winner with 2.1 seconds left but his jumper rimmed out to force and extra five minutes.
Senior Josh Troyer (Vancouver, Wash./Lower Columbia CC) opened up the extra period with a jumper for two and then Green hit a pair of free throws as the Geoducks held the early advantage. Evergreen wouldn’t trail the rest of the way as they enacted revenge for their overtime loss in Ashland, picking up the 79-76 win.
Evergreen was led by 20 points from Tolliver, who also brought down 10 rebounds to collect the double-double. Green added 19 points to go with nine rebounds while Hope chipped in 18 in the win. Troyer rounded out the Geoducks in double-digits, chalking up 11 points. The home team won the game at the free throw line, making 30 of 40 for 75%.
Southern Oregon was led by 17 points from Jordan Highland. Daum finished with 16 on the night while Tedder and Austin Wolfer each scored 10. The Raiders outshot the Geoducks, 44.6% to 40.0% but committed 27 fouls on the night, allowing Evergreen free trips to the charity stripe.
Evergreen heads south next weekend for their final regular season road games of the weekend. The road trip will begin on Friday night as the Geoducks take on Warner Pacific. Tip-off with the Knights is set for 7:30 p.m. in Portland, Ore.
Game Stats
Upcoming Games
- Fri, February 11 @ Warner Pacific 7:30pm
- Sat, February 12 @ Concordia University 7:30pm
