LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon Men’s Basketball evened up the season series with a 69-58 win over Southern Oregon University on Friday night. Strong defense and smart plays helped EOU secure the win pulling away late. With the win EOU now moves 8-11 overall and 7-6 in CCC action. The loss drops Southern to 11-7 overall and 9-3 in conference play.
A tight first half set up another great game between the two rivals. Eastern Oregon managed to edge out Southern Oregon in the second half, outscoring them 34-25 down the stretch to secure the victory. Some tough Mountie defense kept the conference’s leading scorer, Casson Rouse, in check with only 10 points on the evening.
In the first half, both teams were evenly matched, with Eastern Oregon holding a slim 35-33 lead at halftime. Jonny Hillman’s 15 points provided a spark for the Mountaineers, while Southern Oregon’s Mason Whittaker and Ethan Blythe contributed 11 and 5 points, respectively.
The leading scorer for the Mountaineers was Garrett Hawkes, who contributed 21 points in 35 minutes of play. Hawkes connected on 8-of-16 field goals, including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. Jonny Hillman also played a pivotal role for Eastern Oregon, registering 15 points and 4 rebounds scoring all 15 points in the first half.
Southern Oregon’s offensive efforts were led by Dominic McGarvey, who tallied 12 points in 19 minutes of action. Casson Rouse and Teron Bradford added 10 and 8 points, respectively, but the Raiders couldn’t overcome the Mountaineers’ second-half surge.
Eastern Oregon’s efficient shooting was a key component in the victory, especially in the second half, where they shot 48.3% from the field and 41.7% from three-point range. The Mountaineers’ defense also played a crucial role, forcing Southern Oregon into 11 turnovers.
The second half saw Eastern Oregon pulling away, with a lead that reached double digits. The Mountaineers capitalized on 7 SOU turnovers and Garrett Hawkes’ hot shooting, complemented by a strong team effort, proved decisive in the final outcome.
EOU now turns their sights to Oregon Tech, the No. 3 team in the conference. The Mounties and Owls will tipoff at 5 p.m. Saturday evening in Quinn Coliseum.
Mounties Take Revenge on Raiders
