Box Score

KLAMATH FALLS – Second-ranked Oregon Tech led by as many as 18 points in the first half and used a big second-half run to pull away to a 78-60 victory over rival Southern Oregon in Cascade Collegiate Conference men's basketball action Saturday night at Danny Miles Court.

The loss drops the Raiders' record to 15-10 overall and 8-6 in conference play, while Oregon Tech improves to 23-3 overall and 12-2 in the CCC. Southern Oregon returns to action Friday, when the Raiders host Northwest at 7:30 p.m. at Bob Riehm Arena.

Eric Thompson (Roseburg, Ore./Roseburg) led the Raiders with 14 points, while Jordan Highland (Tualatin, Ore./Tualatin) tallied 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting. Jeff Bush (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) added eight points, five assists and five rebounds in the loss.

Bobby Hunter finished with a game-high 20 points and Jason Gamblin scored 15 on 7-of-9 shooting for the Owls.

Oregon Tech opened the first half on an 8-0 run as the Raiders missed their first four shots. Later in the first half, an 18-6 OIT run gave the Owls an 18-point advantage at 38-20. Jeff Bush (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) ended the OIT run with a three-pointer with two minutes to play in the half, and the Raiders closed the half on an 8-2 run to trim the Owls' lead to 40-28 at the break.

The Owls scored the first four points of the second half, but the Raiders pulled back to within 13 on Scott Tiefenthaler (Spanaway, Wash./Bethel)'s jumper with just over 16 minutes to play. Unfortunately for SOU, OIT responded with a 21-5 run to stretch its lead to 29 points at 69-40 with eight minutes remaining. From that point, the Owls coasted to the 18-point victory.

Southern Oregon shot 36.8 percent (21-of-57) from the field, while Oregon Tech shot 54.5 percent (30-of-55).