EUGENE – The Southern Oregon men's basketball team completed its 11-game road swing on a high note Saturday, cracking the Cascade Conference win column with a 71-64 defeat of Bushnell at the Morse Center on the strength of an 11-1 night-ending run.
Bryce Dyer, in his third double-double of the season, posted the highest rebounding total for a Raider in 12 years. The sophomore forward went for 14 points and 17 boards, including nine on the offensive glass to help SOU (6-5 overall, 1-4 CCC) snap a four-game skid.
The game was the Raiders' fourth in a row that was within three points in the final three minutes.
Etan Collins, in uniform at SOU for the first time this weekend, helped them finally steal one by registering nine of his 15 points in the second half. The Raiders trailed 63-60 when he finished inside and, after a defensive stop, hit a pair of free throws to give them the lead for good with 3:16 remaining.
Elijah Jackson, who scored 10 of his 15 after halftime, extended the advantage to 67-63 by drilling a contested 3 with 2:36 left. The senior guard also distributed four assists.
The lead changed hands 11 times and the score was tied at eight points. The Raiders trailed by six at halftime but opened the second on an 11-0 run. They faced their largest deficit, 54-46, at the 9:30 mark before back-to-back Jackson buckets and a Collins 3 closed the gap.
They limited Bushnell (5-6, 1-4) to 37% shooting overall and 28% in the second. After Squeeky Johnson's triple gave the Beacons a 61-58 edge with 5:55 remaining, the Raiders didn't give up a bucket the rest of the way.
Dyer pulled down 10 rebounds in the second half alone. His work on the glass helped the Raiders to a 14-5 edge in second-chance points.
Khalil Chatman pitched in nine rebounds and delivered some crucial interior defense late.
Gabe Reichle tacked on 10 points for SOU, which survived despite a 7-of-26 showing beyond the arc. Cory Johnson scored 21 for Bushnell.
The Raiders are off until Jan. 3, when they host Evergreen (Wash.) at 7:30 p.m. in their first home game.