KLAMATH FALLS – Southern Oregon's table-turning streak against the Oregon Tech men's basketball team is still alive after weathering a Lavar Moore storm Saturday night at Danny Miles Court. Just barely.
Moore scored 31 points, making six of eight 3-point attempts in the second half, but Eric Thompson (Roseburg, Ore./Roseburg) did him one better with 32 and the 10th-ranked Raiders stole an 84-80 win – their seventh straight in the series and fourth straight in Klamath Falls.
After the Raiders (17-3 overall, 7-2 Cascade Conference) led by as many as 12 points in the first half, the Owls (12-6, 5-3) went ahead for the first time since the opening moments when Austen Flint's 3-pointer made it 74-73 with 2:13 left.
The Raiders answered, getting it inside to Tim Weber (Roseburg, Ore./Roseburg), who found a cutting Jordan West (Gymea Bay, Australia/Port Hacking) for a layup, and West made two free throws following a Raider stop. Moore drained a 23-foot triple to tie it at 77-all, but Thompson drew a foul on the other end and made both free throws to take back a two-point lead.
On OIT's ensuing possession Moore dribbled the ball off his foot and out of bounds with 29 seconds to go. SOU made nine straight free throws in the final 66 seconds to help seal the win.
The Raiders, who have won eight of nine, are in a four-way tie for first place and will open the second half of circuit play next Friday at fourth-ranked College of Idaho.
Thompson missed his first four shots but hit 10 of his next 13, scoring 24 points in the second half. The point total was his highest of the season.
Weber ended up with 12 points, 12 assists and six rebounds, while West had 13 points and 10 boards for his first career double-double. Ben DeSaulnier (Philomath, Ore./Philomath) chipped in 10 points and Kenny Meyer (Sparks, Nev./Spanish Springs) had six points, five rebounds and four assists off the bench for the Raiders, who shot 56 percent (29-for-52) in the game.
OIT, which shot 46 percent (30-for-65), got help from Brandon Bautista (15 points, seven assists), Flint (14 points) and Kyle Waits (12 points, 11 rebounds).
Before their four-game win streak over OIT in Klamath Falls started, the Raiders hadn't defeated the Owls on Danny Miles Court since 1999, a span of 20 games.
If not for Moore's ability to ice NBA-range, contested 3-point shots, this one could have been easier. Moore, who has scored 30-plus in three straight games, had 24 of OIT's 49 second-half points and four assists after the break. He finished 11-of-23 from the field after a quiet first half.
Point guard Joel Spear (Adelaide, Australia/St. Michaels) added nine points on 4-for-7 shooting for the Raiders, who had 24 assists on 29 baskets.
Of the Raiders' seven conference wins, five have been decided by four points or less or in overtime.