LA GRANDE, OR – LC State Men’s Basketball forced overtime after a big comeback in the second half, but the Warriors fell short in the final five minutes to a talented Eastern Oregon team to open Cascade Conference play. Free throws made the difference in the 76-68 loss for LC State.
“We did a good job of forcing overtime and even having a chance to take the lead at the end of regulation,” coach Austin Johnson said. “Unfortunately, the reality is for 45 minutes EOU was the tougher team, and it ultimately showed with how they got to the free throw line and forced us into so many turnovers. The great thing is we get to compete again as a team tomorrow against the defending national champions and keep building our identity.”
The loss has the LC State record at 6-3 on the season and 0-1 in CCC action.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first half was an evenly fought contest throughout. The Warriors opened on a 13-3 run with baskets by Dylan Skaife, Dallon Morgan, Jamare’ Childs and Brandon Suber, and tallies by John Lustig and Grayson Hunt kept the lead at 10, 18-8, at 12:25. An eight-point run by the Mountaineers cut the difference to 23-22 at 7:01 before EOU took the lead, 27-25, by 3:25.
Elijah Kersey scored and Suber added on to continue the back and forth, and seniors Lustig and Hunt scored for a 33-31 advantage in the final two minutes. Eastern Oregon ended the first half on a 5-0 rally to lead 36-33 at the break.
Peyton Nordland and Lustig scored in the first minute of the second half to keep LC State within one, but EOU pulled away over the next four minutes. Trevor Manning and Nordland hit back-to-back triples to help LC State gain momentum, and five straight points by Skaife before a basket by Nordland cut the deficit to 57-56 at 5:58. Two more triples by Manning had the Warriors in front for the first time in the second half, 62-61, at 4:31. Foul shots by Hunt and Skaife ended regulation with the score knotted 65-65.
EOU opened the overtime period on an 8-0 run to take a commanding lead. Nordland got the Warriors on the board with a free throw and Hunt added a dunk, but the LC State was shut down by Eastern Oregon in the final five minutes.
STAT RECAP
Skaife led the Warriors with 15 points while Nordland and Hunt each scored 11. Nordland was 4-for-5 from the field and led LC State with four assists, and Hunt grabbed six rebounds and blocked three shots.
Lustig led the defense with 10 boards to go with his eight points. Manning scored nine on a 3-for-3 night from the field, all from 3-point range.
LC State shot 41.4% from the field and held EOU to 37.7%, but 19 fouls by LC resulted in 20 free throws for the Mounties.
UP NEXT
The Warriors head to Caldwell on Saturday to take on the defending NAIA National Champion No. 12 College of Idaho. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. PT.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.
