The Hustlin’ Owls celebrate after winning thier 10th CCC Men’s Basketball Championship, defeating the Yotes, 75-72. February 16, 2019 (Image, Brian Gailey / Klamath Falls News)

Regular Season does not get any bigger than it did this weekend

The Hustlin’ Owls needed 2-wins plus 2-losses by College of Idaho this weekend. Doing so the Owls would finish the Cascade Collegiate Conference as outright Champions. Following some thrilling magic, the Owls take home the trophy.

In partial control of their own destiny knowing they must win two games at home. The Owls faced the Mountaineers from Eastern Oregon University on Friday night. They have been hot all season but their best basketball has been played at the end of the season. The Owls defeated EOU by thirty points. Final score 91-61.

That same night, College of Idaho lost to Southern Oregon in Ashland, 69-85.

Saturday night, the Hustlin’ Owls finished out the regular season against College of Idaho at home on Danny Miles Court. This game was for the outright league Championship. Win it’s first place, lose it’s second. The game was close and a thrilling competitive match. It all came down to the final minutes of play when the Yotes came within a single point of reclaiming the lead after a 12-2 run. With a score of 73-72 and 3.3 on the clock, a foul by Keun Palu-Thompson sent Mitch Fink to the line. Fink was clutch from the foul line sinking both foul shots. Yotes inbound.

However, it was too little too late for C of I. Time expires, the buzzer sounds and the Hustlin’ Owls are Cascade Conference Champs.

“First of all, hats off to Idaho,” said Head Coach Justin Parnell. “They are an outstanding team and a class group of guys. The effort our guys gave this weekend was special. They locked in for 80 minutes and earned this conference championship. I'm proud to coach them. We saved our best basketball for this weekend.”

With this championship, the Owls will receive the number one seed in the Cascade Conference Tournament, and an automatic birth into the NAIA DII National Basketball Tournament in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, March 6-12, 2019.

The #1 Oregon Tech Hustlin; Owls will host #8 Northwest University Eagles on Wednesday, February 20, 2019. Game time is at 7:00PM. Get tickets at the OIT Box Office or online at https://oregontech.universitytickets.com/

Relive the magic from Saturday night in our photo story below.
Click on a photo for a larger version.