LAGRANDE, Ore. - After missing a potential game-winning free throw with six seconds left, Eastern Oregon University didn't let a second opportunity pass in overtime.
The Mounties scored the final eight points in overtime, including four on free throws, to defeat Lewis-Clark State College 85-75 in the Aramak Quinn Classic on Saturday night.
The win lifts the Mounties to 4-0 on the season and gave them the unofficial title in the four-team tournament, which featured a pre-determined schedule. Eastern Oregon was the only team to go 2-0 in the tournament, while LCSC, which was opening play, went 1-1 along with Montana Tech. College of Idaho, which fell to Montana Tech 78-70 in the other game on Saturday, went 0-2.
LCSC led by seven early at 11-4, but Eastern Oregon rallied to take a 28-21 lead. LCSC answered with a rally of its own in the see-saw contest and eventually led 38-36 at halftime when Terrell Wallace hit a 3-point shot at the halftime buzzer.
The Warriors led by as much as eight, 44-36, early in the second half, but Eastern Oregon rallied and took its first lead of the half at 51-50 with 10:48 left.
Eastern Oregon led by as much as five on four different occasions in the second half, including 69-64 with 1:17 left in regulation. Drew Arnold then answered with a 3-pointer for LCSC and Brian Duckworth came up with a steal, which he converted into a three-point play with 41 seconds left when he made a layup and was fouled. He then sank the free throw to put LCSC ahead 70-69.
Eastern Oregon missed a shot with 20 seconds left, but got an offensive rebound. Paul Carollo was then fouled with six seconds left while going up for a shot. He made the first free throw, but missed the second and the game went into overtime.
The Mounties scored the first four points in overtime and never trailed as LCSC missed its final five shots and committed two turnovers down the stretch.
Curtis Allen led the Warriors with 23 points and seven rebounds, while Arnold added 17 points and seven boards. Duckworth also was in double figures with 12 points.
LCSC was outrebounded in the contest 45-34 and was outscored by 11 at the foul line as EOU had 33 free-throw attempts and made 22, while LCSC was 11-of-18 at the line.
For the game, LCSC was 30-of-73 from the field for 41.1 percent, while Eastern Oregon was 29-of-56 for 51.8 percent. LCSC did force 22 turnovers in the contest.
The Warriors return to action Monday night when they head to Pullman to face Washington State University at 7 p.m. in an exhibition game.
LCSC's next regular-season contest is Friday in a tournament at Walla Walla University when it meets Bethany at noon.
