PORTLAND, Ore. – Bart Valentine Court has been a house of horrors for Southern Oregon, but this time the Raiders pushed any fears aside during a 81-66 win over Warner Pacific in a CCC Tournament Semifinal clash in Portland. 

The Basics

• Score: Southern Oregon 81, Warner Pacific 66
• Records: SOU (24-8), WPC (25-7)
• Location: C.C. Perry Gym, Portland, Ore.
• The Short Story: The visiting Raiders avenged a pair of regular season losses to Warner Pacific, and moved on to the Cascade Conference Tournament Championship with a win over the #15 ranked Knights. Southern Oregon overcame a WPC defense that had given them fits in the past, shooting 57 percent from the floor over the course of the game. On the other hand, shots that usually fall for the Knights were not finding their mark. Four SOU players posted double figure scoring led by Eric Thompson with 19 points. Doug Thomas led the Knights with 17 points, but WP as a team managed just 43 percent field goal accuracy.  

How it Happened

• Warner Pacific's mastery of SOU at home looked to continue, with the Knights taking a 15-9 lead after six minutes of action.
• The advantage was short-lived however, as the Raiders fought back to take a 21-20 lead 8:14 remaining in the first half.
• SOU would not trail again, and finished the half by outscoring the Knights 20 to 10 and taking a 41-30 lead into halftime.
• Warner Pacific tried to mount a comeback in the second period, and were threatening after Laron Daniels made a pair of free throws to cut the SOU lead down to 60-54 with 11:06 on the clock.
• The Raiders rose to the occasion and reeled off eight straight points, capped by a Tim Weber jumper to put the game out of reach. 
• Every WPC basket down the stretch was answered, allowing SOU to keep plenty of cushion on the scoreboard and claim the 15 point victory.

Notes

• Southern Oregon will face #1 seed College of Idaho in the tournament final, in Caldwell, Idaho on March 3.
• Ryan Parks reached 300 three pointers made for his career after making 3 of 7 tries tonight.