Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Warner Pacific College men's basketball team claimed the Cascade Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship with a thrilling 67-63 win over Southern Oregon tonight at Bart Valentine Court.

The Knights add the post-season title to their regular season CCC Co-Championship, and will now get ready for their 8th consecutive trip to the NAIA National Championship Tournament to be held March 6-12 in Point Lookout, Missouri.

The visiting Raiders, despite the loss, also earned an automatic berth to the NAIA Championships by virtue of appearing the CCC Tournament Final versus WPC.

The game was everything expected in a clash of top-ranked NAIA teams.

Fans might have though the contest would turn into a shootout after the first minute as Kyle Tedder opened the game with back-to-back three pointers for SOU, while Ryan Parks and Josh Black each added a trey for WP before 60 seconds were gone.

The action settled into a defensive slugfest from there with SOU finishing the first period just 10 of 26 from the floor, while WPC was even less accurate at 11 for 30. The Knights did manage to forge a 31-24 lead at the break thanks to nine points each from Parks and Doug Thomas.

The host Knights found enough scoring chances in the early moments of the second half, and built a 10 point advantage (44-34) at the 15:15 mark on a three pointer from Thomas. WP looked in control, but Southern Oregon surged back and used a 17-5 run to take the lead at 51-49 with 8:46 to play.

The teams battled down the stretch, trading baskets until the clock showed 1:55 remaining. At that moment the Raider's Tim Weber hit a deep shot from behind the arc to tie the game at 63-63, but SOU would not score again. Stephen Harris muscled in a basket on the next possession, and the Knights managed to make 2 of 4 free throws in the final minute to provide the final margin.

"I'm really happy for the guys, they played a tough, gritty game," said coach Jared Valentine. "Southern Oregon is a very good team that has always played us tough, and we had to play a physical game to beat them. The players really had to earn it tonight."

Doug Thomas led Warner Pacific with 14 points, while Ryan Parks made 4 of 7 attempts from three point range to add 12. Stephen Harris grabbed a game high 13 rebounds.

Southern Oregon was paced by Eric Thompson, who tossed in 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Tim Weber added nine points and five assists.

Warner Pacific improved their win-loss record to 27-6, while SOU dropped to 24-9.