SALEM, Ore. – For a second-consecutive night, the Corban University Men's Basketball team shocked the Pacific Northwest and greater NAIA national scene with a marquee upset that further complicated the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) standings, as the Warriors regained the eighth and final lead change of their matchup with Southern Oregon University in the final eight minutes and never wavered again to pick up the 79-71 Saturday night win in the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center.
"Another gutsy and physically challenging game the Warriors pulled off with back-to-back wins over top conference teams," detailed Corban head coach Wayne Mendezona shortly following yet another massive win in his first season leading the program. "To come back and play with such ferocity and tenacity, I can't say enough about how proud I am of these guys and their effort. I believe in these young men and their capabilities, and with them now shooting better from the free throw line and stepping up defensively with a never-give-up attitude makes them a very difficult team to beat."
When asked to discuss key individuals that led the team to victory tonight, Mendezona commented, "Tj had another dominant performance for us, as he's so valuable in clogging up lanes and helping on double team traps. Joe was sensational on both ends of the floor and really dictated the tempo on the fastbreak as well. I can't say enough about CJ and his gutsy performance to give us good offensive production while continuing to play amazing defense game in and game out. Oregon was fabulous in the paint finding the open man and boxing out for rebounds, Anjay provided another productive anchor on the inside game, and both Landon and Carter gave us valuable minutes while Benett came in and hit a crucial three that helped swing the momentum. It has just been amazing the journey that these guys have had so far this season, and how much the Corban fans, community, and student base rally around them That to me is the most important part of this game, that we represent our university in Lord Jesus, and these guys are doing this every night."
The Warriors (12-12, 8-8) continue to laugh in the face of prior results and expected matchups as CCC juggernauts arrive on Tim Hills Court, and tonight was no different with the visiting Raiders (15-9, 12-4) having lost just a single road game in conference play thus far and victors in six of the previous seven matchups, including a one-point home win over then No. 20-ranked Oregon Tech, a Hustlin' Owl squad that the Dubs steamrolled last night inside the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center by twenty points.
Southern Oregon scored 71 points in their initial meeting last December down the I-5 interstate in Ashland and did so again tonight in the state capital after shooting under 40% overall from the floor, despite decent marks from beyond the three-point arc (45.5%) and at the free throw line (78.9%). However, tonight's result was flipped in Corban's favor due to yet another consistent night of offense for the Warriors, who shot over 55% overall and were 9-of-12 from the charity stripe in spite of shooting just 2-for-11 from deep.
60 of the Navy and Gold's 79 total points were scored in the paint, as the Dubs flat out dominated the key with a 60-22 advantage in points scored within the paint. In addition, the Warriors turned 16 Raider turnovers into 16 fastbreak points, whereas SOU managed to score just two points in transition basketball. On numerous occasions tonight, Corban would score within ten seconds of a made field goal by Southern Oregon, further demonstrating the rapid offensive pace of play that Mendezona and his staff instill in their student-athletes.
Redshirt junior center Tj Zimmermann was as consistent as ever tonight for the Navy and Gold, converting on 11-of-19 shots from the floor for a game-high 25 points, adding four assists along the way. Meanwhile, junior guard Joe Gould had one of his most well-rounded performances of the season by scoring 14 points and falling one assist shy of a double-double with nine dimes and six rebounds. Redshirt junior guard Clyde Harris Jr. pitched in 12 points, while graduate student forward Oreon Courtney and redshirt senior guard Anjay Cortez scored ten points apiece.
SOU guards Gio Evanson and Elijah Jackson each scored 18 points and had similar stat lines all around to lead the Raiders offensively, while forward Jace Anderson secured a double-double of ten points and ten rebounds.
Yet another opportunity to shake up the conference standings presents itself next Friday, February 13th on Tim Hills Court, as the Navy and Gold will host the defending national champion Yotes from The College of Idaho (17-7, 12-4) at 7:30pm.
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