SALEM, Ore. – In the squad's most thrilling game so far this season, the Corban University men's basketball team earned a nail-biting 87-80 overtime triumph over Southern Oregon University on Friday evening, walking away with a pivotal Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) victory at the end of a grueling 45 minutes of play.

With the win, the Warriors move within a half game of the Raiders for third place in the CCC standings.

CLICK HERE to watch highlights from the game.

"Tonight was an absolute battle," head coach Taylor Kelly said after the contest. "Southern came ready to compete. I love the way our guys came together and found a way to win. We made big shots, had big rebounds, and made free throws to close it out."

CLICK HERE to watch Kelly's postgame interview.

The Raiders led by as many as nine in the first half, but the Warriors responded from a slow early start to claw back into the contest in the latter part of the first period. Corban outscored the visitors 27-14 in the final 11 minutes of the first half.

The second half was a back-and-forth battle, with the lead exchanging hands multiple times down the stretch. A crucial moment came with 1:36 left to play, as SOU saw a two-point advantage (70-68) disappear when Kendall Moore stole it in the Raider back court and finished with a breakaway lay-in on the opposite end to knot the game at 70.

A gritty basket from SOU's K'wan Carter gave the visitors a 72-70 lead with less than 30 seconds left, but Psalm Maduakor was able to draw a foul and hit a pair of high-pressure shots from the charity stripe to even the score with 12 seconds remaining.

The Raiders got a look as regulation expired, but the Navy and Gold defense was able to get the stop and force the squad's second overtime battle in the past week.

Moore energized the Warriors by accounting for the team's first six points in the bonus period, but it was Jordan Newt who put the game on ice.

With a two-point lead (78-76) and two minutes left, Newt drove to the basket and ushered it in off the glass to extend the margin to four. He then made his presence felt on the defensive end, stealing it right back to give Corban a chance to pull away. With the hot hand and an opportunity to sink a dagger, the senior guard hit a clutch three in front of a raucous Warrior crowd, effectively sinking SOU's hopes for a comeback.

Newt ended the night with a game-high 22 points, with nine of those coming in overtime.

Mateo Escheik was exceptional, particularly in the first half, ending the night with 17 points and seven boards.

Providing a boost on both sides of the ball, Moore notched 16 points, four rebounds, and four assists, while also tallying five takeaways. Taylor Anderson (10 PTS) rounded out Corban's double-digit scorers, while Psalm Maduakor's (9 PTS, 9 REB, 4 BLK) impassioned effort played an integral role in the victory.

For Southern Oregon, Carter's 21 points led the way, while Mason Whittaker (14 PTS), Atmar Mundu (13 PTS), and Josh Meyer (12 PTS, 15 REB) also reached double figures. Both Carter and fellow Raider star Tez Allen (9 PTS, 8 REB, 8 AST) were hampered by foul trouble, which limited their availability down the stretch.

Corban (15-10, 10-7 CCC) won't have long to relish the win, as now the squad will turn its sights to the top squad in the CCC standings, Oregon Tech (18-6, 15-1 CCC). The Warriors will welcome the Owls to Tim Hills Court tomorrow night, with tip-off slated for 5 p.m.