No. 2 Hustlin’ Owls Take Down Keelhaulers [Photo Story]
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KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – A 67% shooting average in the second half helped propel No. 2 Oregon Tech (2-0) past Cal Maritime (2-1) 103-79 Sunday afternoon at Danny Miles Court.
"That was one heck of a second half.," said OIT Head Coach Justin Parnell. "We played with a lot of passion and energy that we've been missing. Super proud of the guys. Cal Maritime is really good. Tough week for them but they competed their tail off. They are really talented offensively and Lucero is such a tough guard."
Senior Seth Erickson opened the game with a three-pointer for the Owls before the Keelhaulers showed their strength with an 8-0 run, taking lead and holding it for the majority of the half.
Senior Tyler Hieb and Erickson each scored a three-pointer later in the first, contributing six points to a 9-0 run to the lead. The lead, however, was promptly lost to Maritime.
It wasn't until the four-minute mark that Tech took the lead for good, blasting out of a deficit on a 15-2 run and ending the half on a 53-46 advantage.
By the second period, the Hustlin' Owls controlled the game, taking a commanding 50-33 advantage and soaring to their largest lead of 29 points with the help of a 22-4 run and a 11-2 run.
Senior Mitchell Fink led Oregon Tech with 24 points and five assists and was followed by Erickson, who scored 21 and grabbed six rebounds. Fink shot 3-of-5 from long range and Erickson shot 3-of-4, leading the Owls to a 47.6% average from long range.
Sophomore Matt Van Tassell and Hieb each scored 13 to round off the double-digit scores and juniors Scotty Burge and Harrison Steiger each tallied six assists.
Zavier Lucero led the Keelhaulers with a career-high 30 points, shooting 2-of-2 from long range and grabbing five rebounds. Ben Borja followed up with 19 points and seven rebounds and Josh Hauser added another 11 points.
Tech held a 34-24 rebounding edge and a major 22-12 assisting advantage.
The Owls also held a 42-34 lead in the paint and had a 32-11 advantage from the bench.
Oregon Tech shot with 83.3% accuracy from the free throw line.
The Hustlin' Owls will travel to Arizona next week for the first time in the program's history to take on Park University in Gilbert on Thursday at 4:30pm and Embry Riddle University in Prescott on Friday at 6:30pm. Tech's next home game will be on November 15th as part of the Lithia Oregon Tech Classic at 7:30pm.
Game Photography
Next Game
at Park University
November 7, 2019
4:30 PM