Box Score KLAMATH FALLS ­– Big men David Sturner (Philomath, Ore./Philomath) and Eric Thompson (Roseburg, Ore./Roseburg) wouldn't let the Southern Oregon University men's basketball team lose Saturday night at Oregon Tech.

And with their latest win, this one a 69-67 anxiety inducer in front of 1,732 at Danny Miles Court, the 15^th-ranked Raiders (22-6 overall, 11-5 Cascade Conference) have gotten the Owls (15-13, 8-8) in six straight games for the first time in series history.

SOU's win probability dived to a low point when a Derek Evans floater had the Owls up 67-63 with 2:33 remaining. Sturner came back on SOU's ensuing possession and nailed a 3-pointer from the wing with the shot clock dwindling, and, after a defensive stop, Thompson bumped his way toward the basket and turned around for a bucket-and-one with 1:56 left – giving the Raiders a lead and providing the final score.

Thompson scored 24 points, Sturner scored 18 and both collected 11 rebounds. Sturner also blocked four shots for the third time this season as the pair bullied OIT in the paint. The Owls were limited to five offensive rebounds, were outscored 38-26 inside and had two second-chance points to SOU's 16.

They still had a chance to win, too, but Austen Flint's desperation shot from nearly midcourt was sent away by the backboard as the buzzer sounded.

Point guard Brandon Bautista finished with 20 points and five assists to lead the Owls, and Kyle Waits went for 19 points and six boards. Both made 7 of 12 shots and two 3-pointers, helping the Owls go 8-for-23 from outside as a team.

They threatened to run away with the game early, leading 23-11 eight minutes in, but SOU answered with 18 straight points, 10 of which came from Sturner. The Raiders claimed the halftime lead, 37-36, before it was exchanged 10 times in the second.

SOU forward Jordan West (Gymea Bay, Australia/Port Hacking), who had 10 points off the bench, scored five unanswered points to tie the game, 50-all, with 12:08 left. His 3-pointer with 10 minutes left gave the Raiders a 55-54 edge.

Jeff Bush (West Linn, Ore./West Linn) had eight points, six rebounds and four assists without a turnover for the Raiders. The teams' combined total of nine turnovers was the lowest in the CCC this season, and the Raiders' total of five gave them seven or fewer in four of their last six games.

Tim Weber (Roseburg, Ore./Roseburg) added five points, six assists and three rebounds. For OIT, Evans chipped in eight points and three assists.

The Raiders have a 1 ½ game lead in second place over 24^th-ranked Concordia (20-7, 9-6) and will finish the regular season on the Cavaliers' home court next Saturday. First, they'll play at fourth place Warner Pacific (14-12, 8-6) on Friday.