SOU-Pacific Union Boxscore

Using a big second half, the Southern Oregon men's basketball team opened up the 2008-09 season with a 76-60 victory over Pacific Union tonight in Angwin, Calif.

The game was the opener for both squads. The Raiders travel to Dominican University Friday night and then travels to Eugene Sunday for an exhibition game against the NCAA Division I Oregon Ducks.

Senior Eli Thornton (Victorville, Calif./Victorville) came off the bench for 19 points to lead the Raiders. Junior Humphrey Jackson (Redwood City, Calif./Woodside) finished with 13 points.

The two teams played tight in the first half, with the Raiders holding on to a 34-28 lead at halftime. In the second half, SOU took over and pushed the lead to 18 at one point.

“We really struggled shooting the ball in the first half,” SOU Head Coach Brian McDermott said. “But in the second half we changed up our defense and were really able to get out and run and started to get some easy baskets.”

As a team, the Raiders shot 44 percent for the field, but went only 2-for-19 from the 3-point line. Thornton made 9 of his 13 shots on the night.