KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – A two-point contest with five minutes remaining was blown out of proportion after the Corban University Men's Basketball team fell victim to the long range prowess of No. 20-ranked Oregon Tech over the final minutes of regulation, dropping an 82-69 decision on Danny Miles Court for a third-consecutive loss to end the 2025 calendar year.
"The Warriors competed with tremendous heart tonight!" exclaimed Corban head coach Wayne Mendezona regarding his team's effort in southern Oregon. "Dealing with adversity to one of our key players harboring injury resulted in a limited gameplan and execution. However, CJ starting and becoming a catalyst on the defensive end and on the glass with heart clearly made a difference in the way we competed. Overall, it was another tremendous effort output by our team, but we lacked the execution that is needed at critical times of the game. So we'll reflect on how we can get better after the break, but I couldn't be more proud of these young men and how hard they're trying to fight for the cause of Christ and the University they love so much."
The Hustlin Owls (9-3, 4-0) stayed perfect in Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) action behind a red hot three-point efficiency (39.1%) and a lopsided 21-for-30 versus 9-for-12 advantage in free throws taken on their home court. Meanwhile, the Warriors (5-7, 1-3) kept pace with Tech in every other facet of the game, shooting 41.8% from the field while committing three less turnovers (12-9) in an otherwise all-around effort from the Dubs.
Senior guard Benett Bos laid the ball up and into the hoop with 5:12 remaining in the second half to cut a double-digit deficit to just two points, yet an 8-0 OIT run comprising of a pair of three-pointers dashed the Warriors' hopes of a comeback bid in the Klamath Basin.
Junior guard Joe Gould continues to pace the Corban offense with a team-high 19 points on 8-for-17 shooting this evening, hauling in four rebounds along the way. Redshirt junior center Tj Zimmermann tacked on 12 points and three rebounds, while graduate student forward Oreon Courtney scored ten points with a team-best seven boards.
An 18-point and 12-assist double-double effort from forward Jackson Cooper resulted in the home win for Tech, as he was just two rebounds shy of a triple-double output. Forward Dakota Reber was a rebound short of a double-double scoring a game-high 21 points in the process.
Following the Christmas Break, the Navy and Gold will be back in action on Tim Hills Court in game one of a four-game homestand, beginning with Northwest University (3-8, 0-4) on Friday, January 2nd at 7:30pm.
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