OLYMPIA, Wash. – A pair of 20-point performances was enough to pull the 23rd-ranked Eastern Oregon Mountaineers past the Evergreen Geoducks, 90-79, in a Cascade Conference men’s basketball game on Thursday evening at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.
Following a basket on either end of the court to open the game, the Mountaineers (10-3, 3-2 CCC) took control early as they were able to build a double-digit lead over the Geoducks (1-12, 0-4 CCC). The lead remained in the teens for much of the second half but a three-pointer by Mike DeRosier (Puyallup, Wash./South Puget Sound CC) got Evergreen within single-digits at halftime, 36-27.
In the second half, the Geoducks sprinted back into the contest, pulling within three-points, 56-53, following a three-ball by Travis Wagner (Federal Way, Wash./Green River CC) at the 12:23 mark. The Mounties quickly shut the gate, using a 10-0 run to push the lead back to 13 and Evergreen couldn’t get back in it, falling 90-79.
Evergreen was led by 20 points from Marice Tolliver (Tacoma, Wash./Lower Columbia College), who also added 10 assists and seven rebounds in the losing effort. DeRosier added 13 while Wagner and Patrick Lewis (Bremerton, Wash./Olympic College) each chipped in 12. Larry Green (Seattle, Wash./Grays Harbor CC) and Elzie Dickens (Seattle, Wash./Highline CC) put up 10 each as six different Geoducks finished with double-digit points.
Eastern Oregon was led by 28 points from Jamar Johnson. Cody Thurmond put up 24 points to go with six assists while Ervin Felder fell just a rebound shy of a double-double with 17 points and nine boards in the win. The Mounties controlled the glass all night, outrebounding Evergreen, 48-28, on the game.
Evergreen will look for that elusive conference win on Friday night when they play host to College of Idaho. Tip with the ‘Yotes is set for 7:30 pm at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.
