Second-half spurt helps Warriors down Malaspina 105-74

10-27-07

Dorian Watson scored 13 points and the Lewis-Clark State College defense forced eight turnovers to spark 23-0 run midway through the second half to help the Warriors defeat Malaspina University 105-74 at Clarkston High School’s Kramer Gym on Saturday. 

The win was the second one in a row for the Warriors (2-0 overall) over the Mariners, but this one was hardly as easy as the 115-65 win on Friday. 

“We have a lot of respect for Malaspina,” LCSC coach Tim Walker said. “They played a great game, worked their butts off, and made adjustments. We were put to the test on offense and on defense.” 

The Warriors led by 10, 43-33, at halftime, but Malaspina chopped away and took the lead at 50-49 when Rory Peffers hit a field goal at the 14:33 mark. LCSC regained the lead, but the Warrior advantage stood at only 57-55 when Henry Bui hit a shot at the 12:06 mark. 

At that point, the Warriors cranked it up on both ends of the court to score the next 23 points for an 80-55 lead. Watson hit five field goals, including three 3-pointers, to help the Warriors score 48 points in the final 12 minutes of the game. In one nine minute stretch, LCSC outscored the Mariners 40-9 to lead by as much as 33 points. 

The Warrior defense also stepped it up and forced 37 turnovers in the game. The Warriors also held the Mariners to 42.9 percent shooting in the second half after Malaspina torched the nets in the first half on 14-of-24 shooting, 58.3 percent. 

Walker mentioned that he thought the LCSC defense was instrumental in the second half surge. 

 “We had some key stops and steals that got us through a closer game today,” he said. 

Mike Gordy again led the Warriors in scoring with 27 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field and 9-of-9 at the foul line. 

Watson added 23 points for the Warriors, while Kasey Riley had 17 and Brian Duckworth added 12. Watson, Riley and Duckworth, who combined for 52 points, all played together last season at Sheridan Junior College in Wyoming. 

Jon Daly led the Warriors with 11 rebounds as LCSC held a 35-31 advantage on the boards. Napoleon Gordon had six of LCSC’s 23 steals in the game, while Justin Fraser and Duckworth had five assists apiece. 

For the contest, LCSC was 39-of-77 form the field, 50.6 percent, and 7-of-27 from the 3-point line, 25.9 percent. The Warriors were 20-of-23 at the foul line. 

Malaspina, now 1-6 overall, was led by Ryan Davidson’s 15 points, while Patrick McCarty added 12, along with a team-high eight rebounds. 

The Warriors return to action on Friday and Saturday in the Cannon’s Building Material Center Tournament at the LCSC Activity Center. On Friday, Carroll College and Cascade College tip off action at 5:30 p.m., followed by Southern Oregon and LCSC at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, the predetermined pairings have Carroll and Southern Oregon at 5:30 p.m., and Cascade against LCSC at 7:30 p.m.