SALEM, Ore. – The Corban University men's basketball team used a total-team effort on Friday evening in the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center en route to a blowout win over Simpson University (Calif.), 94-69. For the Warriors, it was a big result not only to continue the forward momentum that this 2015-16 season has generated thus far, but after losing twice to the Red Hawks last year, Friday's dominant win showed just how good this year's Warrior squad can be.
Click the 'Play Button' on the photo above to watch the video highlight of the night.
"We had a great week of practice," said head coach Steve Masten. "We've been working very hard to improve and it showed in our great team effort tonight! We felt if we held their three main scorers in check they'd have a tough time scoring and we were able to do that. We held those players 21 points below their collective average, and we also held them to 38% shooting which is an indicator of how well we played defensively."
For the Red Hawks, they were playing their sixth game in nine nights, so the Warriors knew that when the opportunity was there, they needed to take it and jump all over Simpson. Corban did just that.
The Warriors used stifling defense and efficient offense early on to take a 14-4 lead, capped off by a three-pointer by senior forward Cody Crowe (Grants Pass, Ore.). Sophomore guard AJ Monterossi (Beaverton, Ore.) also had it working early on, seemingly scoring at will. He finished the first half with 15 points in 15 minutes on 5-of-11 shooting, nailing one long-range effort in the process.
The highlight of the night came in that first half when freshman forward Joel Johnson (Tigard, Ore.) followed up a missed shot for a thunderous put-back two-handed slam, bringing the Warrior faithful to their feet in applause.
Click the 'Play Button' on the story photo above to watch the video highlight of the dunk.
At the half, the Warriors led 42-29, and it was a 45.9% shooting effort that helped Corban to the 13-point lead while also causing seven Red Hawk turnovers.
In the second stanza, it was more of the same, and a three-point barrage ultimately sealed Simpson's fate, as junior guard Toby Roth (Silverton, Ore.), hit one, and then junior guard Caleb Herzberg (Beaverton, Ore.) nailed a few of his own, pushing Corban in front by 32 points midway through the second half at 73-41. For good measure, sophomore guard Caleb Dozier (Beaverton, Ore.) joined the party downtown, sinking another three-pointer for Corban to seal the deal.
On the night as a team, the Warriors drained 11 three-pointers, one short of their season high, and Corban shot 51.5% overall from the field as a team, making a season-best 35 total field goals and totaling a season-best 94 points.
Individually, Monterossi led the way with 15 points, while Warrior senior forward Cyrus Ward (Gig Harbor, Wash.) chipped in 13 points and seven boards. Dozier was efficient all evening long, going 4-for-7 from the field for 10 points and nabbed a game-high 12 boards. Johnson once again provided a solid effort down low, shooting 4-for-5 from the field for 10 points with eight boards.
Following the game, Dozier talked about the win in a post-game interview.
Corban (3-1) returns to the court on Sunday to take on NAIA Division I opponent, Lewis-Clark State. Tipoff in the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center is set for a 4 p.m. start. If you can't make it to the game, be sure to follow along via the live stream and live stats.
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