Senior guard Curtis Allen had season highs of 24 points and 13 rebounds to help the Lewis-Clark State College men’s basketball team hold off Cascade College of Portland, Ore. 91-70 in a nonconference game at the LCSC Activity Center on Sunday night.
It was the fourth straight game Allen has scored at least 20 points and his total is the second highest total by a Warrior this season, behind on 25 points from Drew Arnold against Walla Walla University earlier this month.
Allen finished 9-of-20 from the field with most of his point coming on drives to the basket. LCSC had a size and quickness advantage, although Cascade was able to run with the Warriors for most of the game. LCSC, however, had a 40-24 scoring advantage in the paint and a 20-6 edge in second-chance points with offensive rebounds.
The win lifts LCSC to 5-4 overall, although the team did show some signs of not playing a game in 18 days. LCSC was scheduled to take part in the two-day Humboldt State Tournament in Arcata, Calif., on Dec. 19-20, but could not get flights out of Spokane because of weather conditions and had to drop out of the tournament.
“I was happy we got a ‘W’ after such a long layoff,” LCSC coach Tim Walker said. “We were fairly efficient inside the 3-point line and we transitioned the ball well. All in all I was happy with our effort and getting the win.”
Cascade, which fell to 7-2, never led in the game and fell behind 14-4 early in the contest. The Warriors led by as much as 18 in the opening half, but Cascade rallied to cut the margin to 10.
The Warriors also had trouble shaking free from the Thunderbirds in the second half. Twice early in the half, Cascade cut the margin to seven points, but LCSC used a 9-0 run to put the lead to 16. LCSC led by as much as 17 with 12:07 left, but another Cascade run cut the margin to 70-63 with 5:43 remaining.
Allen, however, responded with 10 points down the stretch to help LCSC hit its free throws to put the game away.
The Warriors managed to put five players in double figures and Tanner McIntosh also finished with a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Drew Arnold had 15 points and eight boards, while Daniel Williams added 12 points and seven rebounds. Brian Duckworth added 13 points and five assists.
LCSC had a 53-43 rebounding edge, including a 19-11 advantage on the offensive glass.
For the game, LCSC was 32-of-86 from the field for 42.1 percent, but was only 3-of-17 from the 3-point line, including 0-of-11 in the first half. Cascade finished 23-of-65 from the field, 35.4 percent, and 5-of-20 from the arc.
Cascade had four players in double figures, led by Erving Adams’ 12 points.
LCSC returns to action on Saturday when it plays host to Walla Walla University at 7:30 p.m. in its final non-Frontier Conference game. LCSC defeated WWU 119-48 earlier this month.
