KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Playing the second-ranked team in NAIA Division II, the Evergreen Geoducks gave it all they had but fell to the number-two Oregon Tech Owls, 90-62, in a Cascade Conference men’s basketball game on Friday night at Danny Miles Court in Klamath Falls, Ore.

The Geoducks (1-24, 1-16 CCC) looked like the nationally-ranked team in the opening minutes as a quick seven points in the first two minutes gave Evergreen a 7-2 lead over the Owls (24-3, 13-2 CCC).  Oregon Tech quickly took over control of the game, using a 15-2 run to go up by eight with 13:39 left to play in the opening period.

A three-ball by Larry Green (Seattle, Wash./Grays Harbor CC) followed by a layup from Patrick Lewis (Bremerton, Wash./Olympic College) pulled the Geoducks back within three as Evergreen battled early with one of the best teams in the nation.  The Owls eventually started to pull away as the lead hit double-digits with 8:14 left to go in the first half and Oregon Tech headed into halftime up, 52-36.

The Owl lead hit 21 with 16:02 left to play on a lay-up by Bobby Hunter and Oregon Tech found themselves up by 30 with 11 minutes left to play after opening up the period on a 23-9 run.  The Geoducks continued to play tough the remainder of the contest but it was the second-ranked Owls earning the win, 90-62.

Evergreen was led by 15 points from Green and Lewis finished with 14 points on the night while Elzie Dickens (Seattle, Wash./Highline CC) put up 13 points and six rebounds in the loss.  Sophomore Mike DeRosier (Puyallup, Wash./South Puget Sound CC)  had seven assists in a team-high 34 minutes.

The Owls were paced by 24 points from Hunter.  Jason Gamblin finished with 13 points and Kyle Gomez chipped in 12 points.  Scotty Riddle chalked up 11 while David Clarke put up 10 points as all five Owl starters finished with double-digit points.  13 Oregon Tech players saw minutes on Friday night, with 10 players putting points on the scoreboard for the Hustlin’ Owls.

The Geoducks make the trip to Ashland, Ore. on Saturday to take on Southern Oregon in Evergreen’s road finale.  Tip with the Raiders is set for 7:30pm.

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