ASHLAND – All-Cascade Conference point guard Jamison Guerra fueled No. 24-ranked Oregon Tech's late-game push while Southern Oregon went cold down the stretch of a 72-68 Owls win on Tuesday night at Lithia Motors Pavilion.

Until Jacob Axmaker's 3-pointer at the buzzer, the Raiders (17-9 overall, 12-8 CCC) went nearly five minutes without a bucket. They tied the score, 64-64, on Khalil Chatman's three-point play with 4:57 remaining, but it was all Owls (20-6, 16-4) the rest of the way.

Down two inside the two-minute mark, SOU missed a chance in transition that Guerra rebounded and turned into an OIT fast break. He found Blake Jensen cutting to the rim for a layup, and after the Raiders split a pair at the free-throw line he beat the shot-clock buzzer with a heavily-contested turnaround inside to make it 70-65 with 45 seconds left.

Guerra, who finished with 12 points, six assists and five rebounds, later iced the win with a pair of free throws.  Jensen tallied 18 points and eight boards for the Owls, scoring 10 in the second half, and Keegan Shivers went for 18 points, 11 boards and three steals.

Elijah Jackson went 8-of-14 to score a game-high 19 points for the Raiders, who were marred by 39% shooting. Bryce Dyer picked up his third consecutive double-double and ninth of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

The lead changed hands 13 times and was tied at 12 points.

Seven of the Raiders' eight conference losses have been decided by five or fewer points. They dropped a 97-94 double-overtime decision at Oregon Tech on Dec. 14.

The Owls maintained a one-game lead over Lewis-Clark State for second place.

SOU enters the final two games of the regular season – Friday against Warner Pacific and Saturday against Multnomah in Ashland – in a three-way tie for fourth place.