BOX SCORE

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Despite shooting nearly 58% from the field for the game, Corban's men's basketball team could not overcome four Hustlin' Owls scoring in double figures in a 77-57 loss to Oregon Tech Friday at Danny Miles Court.

Corban (6-7, 2-2 CCC) was led offensively by sophomore Cyrus Ward with 16 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field, while freshman Toby Roth and junior Jordan Carter added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Ward also led the Warriors with five rebounds, while Roth handed out a team-high five assists to go along with a pair of steals by freshman Caleb Herzberg.

Oregon Tech (10-7, 3-2 CCC) would get a game-high 21 points from Kyle Waits, while three other Hustlin' Owls – Derek Evans, Josh Johnson, and Brandon Bautista – also scored in double figures with 17, 11, and 10 points, respectively. Waits also pulled down a game-high eight rebounds, while Duncan Schramm handed out a game-high seven assists off OIT's bench.

The game would begin with Oregon Tech jumping out to an eight-point lead (12-4) over the opening five minutes before Corban used a 12-2 run over a span of six minutes en route to grabbing a 16-14 lead on a jumper by Ward at the 9:39 mark. Neither team would hold more than a two-point lead over the next four minutes until Oregon Tech erased a slim one-point lead (25-24) for Corban with a 8-0 run to grab a 32-25 lead after a fast break lay-in by Bautista with 4:20 on the clock. The Hustlin' Owls would never relinquish their lead throughout the remainder of the first half, as Oregon Tech took a five-point lead (40-35) into halftime.

Corban would score the opening points of the second half on a three-pointer by senior Josiah Sebens, as the Warriors pulled within two points (40-38) with 18:26 on the clock. Over the next 10 minutes, Oregon Tech used a 26-8 run resulting in a 20-point lead (66-46) on a three-pointer by Waits with 8:31 left. Over the final eight-plus minutes, Oregon Tech would not relinquish its double-digit lead as the Hustlin' Owls pushed their advantage to a game-high 21 points (75-54) before Corban closed the game by scoring one more point than OIT for the final difference of 20 points (77-57).

As a team, Corban combined to shoot 26-for-45 (57.8%) from the field that included a 4-for-10 (40.0%) performance from beyond the three-point line and a 1-for-8 (12.5%) showing at the free throw line. On the other hand, Oregon Tech was a combined 29-for-56 (51.8%) from the field, 11-of-27 (40.7%) from long distance, and 8-for-12 (66.7%) at the charity stripe.

Corban will return to the hardwood tomorrow – Saturday, January 4th – against the NAIA's No. 2-ranked Raiders of Southern Oregon beginning at approximately 7:30 p.m. inside Bob Riehm Arena in Ashland.