BOX SCORE BOX SCORE

SALEM, Ore. – Freshman Andrew Evans scored a game-high 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field, as Corban's men's basketball team picked up a hard-fought 70-66 win over conference rival Concordia Friday inside the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center.

Corban (9-15, 5-10) combined to shoot 30-of-59 (50.8%) from the field, while the Warriors knocked down 7-of-15 (46.7%) from beyond the three-point line and were 3-of-7 (42.9%) at the free throw line. On the other hand, Concordia (14-11, 8-7 CCC) was a combined 29-for-60 (48.3%) from the field, 4-of-12 (33.3%) from long distance, and 4-of-6 (66.7%) at the charity stripe.

Along with Evans, three other Warriors – senior Jacob Kopra, senior Dustin Moore, and freshman Cyrus Ward – also scored in double figures with 13, 12, and 11 points, respectively, while Kopra grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. Evans also added six rebounds and a game-high five assists, while also registered a game-high four steals.

Concordia would open the game by scoring the first five points before pushing their lead to as much as seven points (16-9) on a jumper by Anthony Holton with 10:37 on the clock. Over the next three minutes, Corban used an 11-4 run to tie the game at 20-all thanks to a lay-in by Ward at the 6:53 mark. An 11-3 run over the next two minutes would give the host Warriors an eight-point lead (31-23) thanks to a three-pointer by Evans before both teams scored 10 points over the final four-plus minutes, as Corban settled for a 41-33 advantage at halftime.

The second half would begin with Concordia pulling within two points (41-39) on a lay-in by Holton with 18:26 remaining. Over the next five minutes, Corban would use a 14-5 run to pull ahead by 11 points (55-44) on a lay-in by junior Josiah Sebens with just under 13 minutes on the clock. The host Warriors would continue to hold their double-digit lead until the 7:45 mark when Corban was ahead 61-50 and Concordia used an 11-4 run over a span of four minutes to pull within two points (63-61) on a jumper by Willy Ligon with 3:43 left. Over the next three minutes, both teams would battle back and forth until it was a one-point game (67-66) with 30 seconds left. Evans would hit a three-pointer from the wing with 21 seconds left that gave Corban a 70-66 lead that the host Warriors would hold onto thanks to solid defense down the stretch.

Concordia was led offensively by Holton with 19 points, while Adam Herman, who is the leading scorer in the conference, was held 11 points below his season average with 12. Despite an off-night offensively, Herman did tie Kory Kirwan for the team-lead in rebounds with six, while Holton handed out a team-best three assists.

Corban will return to the hardwood tomorrow night – Saturday, February 9th – against the NAIA's No. 13-ranked Knights of Warner Pacific beginning at approximately 7:30 p.m. inside the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center in Salem.