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Men top Corban, 72-59
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| H&N photo by Andrew Mariman Coming through: OIT’s Jguwon Hogges splits the Corban defense and floats through the lane for two first-half points in the Hustlin’ Owls’ win Friday. |
Bouncing back: OIT halts one-game skid with victory
By STEVE MATTHIES
H&N Sports Writer
Oregon Tech’s 72-59 win over Corban College might not go down as a thing of beauty, except for where it counts — the standings.
The Hustlin’ Owls overcame shooting woes to take a big lead and then coast to the victory after their only loss of the season which OIT ended calendar year 2008 with. OIT now is 4-1 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, and 14-1 overall.
“At times we did some good things, but we have to play the way we’re capable of,” OIT captain Joshua Wetzler said in an almost somber locker room.
“We just have to move forward from (the win over Corban),” Wetzler said.
The Hustlin’ Owls have their first chance to move forward when they host Concordia at 7:30 p.m. today at Danny Miles Court.
“We got this one out of our system,” Jguwon Hogges said.
Early on, there was plenty to get out of the system with OIT playing its first game since Dec. 20.
Corban, which fell to 0-4 in the league, made five of its first 10 shots and held a 14-13 lead, its second of the game.
OIT then went on a 12-0 run to take the lead for good, one it opened up to 36-19 by halftime. The Hustlin’ Owls did that while shooting 30 percent for the half, including a 19-percent effort in the early going.
The teams then traded baskets to open the second half before an OIT spurt gave the Owls a 47-25 lead. OIT, which missed 16 layups in the game, eventually would open up a 53-26 lead.
Many of the missed layups came after the Owls held their biggest lead.
“The game was one of our better first halves, defensively,” Wetzler said. “We have to keep that up. But, we didn’t perform like a No. 1 team should.”
There was still plenty to enjoy.
Justin Parnell had 19 points and four assists, Christian Cavanaugh 17 points and 17 rebounds, Wetzler 12 rebounds, Hogges 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots, and the Hustlin’ Owls were 16-for-19 at the free-throw line.
“Coming off the loss (Dec. 20 at Evergreen State), we wanted to come out and push the ball, play solid defense and hit the boards. It felt good to hit the boards hard like that,” Hogges said.
“It was tough to come back and get our rhythm,” he said.
OIT never did reach 40 percent shooting, which is rare for the Hustlin’ Owls, but the team’s 24 offensive rebounds led to several easy baskets to help the Owls maintain their lead.
Ian Logan led Corban with 17 points.
The Hustlin’ Owls overcame shooting woes to take a big lead and then coast to the victory after their only loss of the season which OIT ended calendar year 2008 with. OIT now is 4-1 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, and 14-1 overall.
“At times we did some good things, but we have to play the way we’re capable of,” OIT captain Joshua Wetzler said in an almost somber locker room.
“We just have to move forward from (the win over Corban),” Wetzler said.
The Hustlin’ Owls have their first chance to move forward when they host Concordia at 7:30 p.m. today at Danny Miles Court.
“We got this one out of our system,” Jguwon Hogges said.
Early on, there was plenty to get out of the system with OIT playing its first game since Dec. 20.
Corban, which fell to 0-4 in the league, made five of its first 10 shots and held a 14-13 lead, its second of the game.
OIT then went on a 12-0 run to take the lead for good, one it opened up to 36-19 by halftime. The Hustlin’ Owls did that while shooting 30 percent for the half, including a 19-percent effort in the early going.
The teams then traded baskets to open the second half before an OIT spurt gave the Owls a 47-25 lead. OIT, which missed 16 layups in the game, eventually would open up a 53-26 lead.
Many of the missed layups came after the Owls held their biggest lead.
“The game was one of our better first halves, defensively,” Wetzler said. “We have to keep that up. But, we didn’t perform like a No. 1 team should.”
There was still plenty to enjoy.
Justin Parnell had 19 points and four assists, Christian Cavanaugh 17 points and 17 rebounds, Wetzler 12 rebounds, Hogges 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots, and the Hustlin’ Owls were 16-for-19 at the free-throw line.
“Coming off the loss (Dec. 20 at Evergreen State), we wanted to come out and push the ball, play solid defense and hit the boards. It felt good to hit the boards hard like that,” Hogges said.
“It was tough to come back and get our rhythm,” he said.
OIT never did reach 40 percent shooting, which is rare for the Hustlin’ Owls, but the team’s 24 offensive rebounds led to several easy baskets to help the Owls maintain their lead.
Ian Logan led Corban with 17 points.
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