LA GRANDE – Tez Allen scored 16 second-half points but was unable to connect on a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer as Southern Oregon fell 65-62 to Eastern Oregon on Saturday night at Quinn Coliseum.

Phillip Malatare posted 21 points and six rebounds to lead four Mountaineers in double figures. He helped them navigate eight second-half lead changes with 13 over the final 10 minutes.

With 1:53 to play, Preston Chandler's 3-pointer pushed EOU's lead to 63-59. SOU guard Atmar Mundu drove in for a layup that cut the deficit to one with 16 seconds left before Cooper Lumsden hit two free throws on the other end, forcing Allen to take a deep 3 while fading towards the sideline for the potential tie.

The Mountaineers bumped their record to 12-9 overall and 6-7 in the Cascade Conference. The Raiders slipped to 11-10 and 8-5, putting them in a tie for fourth place with Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) in the standings.

Allen did all of his scoring in the second on 6-of-9 shooting and also pulled down 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Atmar Mundu totaled 12 points and three steals, Josh Meyer went for 13 points and seven rebounds, and Joe Juhala added 11 points and eight rebounds off the bench after missing Friday's game at College of Idaho.

Zane Wright scored 11 while Chandler and Xavier Lovelace had 10 apiece for EOU. The Mountaineers forced only six turnovers but held the Raiders to 40-percent shooting.

SOU returns home next week, facing Northwest (Wash.) on Friday and Evergreen (Wash.) on Saturday.