E. Oregon takes down Tech men

By Matt Sayler, of The Montana Standard - 11/05/2006

Montana Tech led for most of the first half, but after a 19-8 run by Eastern Oregon from just past the 8-minute mark to the end of the half, the Mountaineers took a 41-35 lead into the break and never looked back in their 80-72 win over the Orediggers in non-conference men’s basketball action Saturday at the Tech HPER Complex.

Tech’s Sam Conley hit a 3-pointer with 15 minutes, 18 seconds left in the half to give Tech a 10-point cushion, but it wasn’t enough.

The Mountaineers went on an 8-0 run, led by two 3-pointers from Mark Carollo, and forced Tech to call a timeout with 6:20 left in the opening frame.

Casey Briggs broke the Eastern Oregon run with a tip-in, but the Mountaineers ran with the ball again and after another Mark Carollo trey, Eastern Oregon was up 31-29.

The Eastern defense stumped Tech several times, forcing a shot-clock violation and several bad shots.

Paul Carollo was a force inside for the Mountaineers, scoring 12 points and pulling down 10 rebounds.

The Orediggers also hurt themselves with infractions in the second half, putting Eastern into the bonus early in the half with 13 of their 19 fouls coming in the second stanza. Two of which came with under a minute to play.

Mark Carollo led the Mountaineers in both halves, dropping 33 in the game, 26 of which came during the dramatic comeback in the first half.

Tech’s leading scorer was Conley, who put on a show that included great drives to the baskets and one huge dunk off a put back. Casey Briggs added 17 to pace the Orediggers.

Tech will be back in action on Monday at the University of Utah.

EASTERN OREGON (2-0) — Jeremy Templeton 2-5 0-0 5, Mark Carollo 10-22 9-9 33, Tanner McIntosh 6-12 2-3 17, Paul Carollo 2-4 1-2 5, Nick Finley 0-1 1-2 1, Dan Blanchard 2-5 1-2 5, Vernon Cropper 0-1 0-0 0, Meil Fryer 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 26-61 20-26 80.

MONTANA TECH (3-3) — Casey Briggs 6-12 5-7 17, Luke Harman 0-3, 0-1 0, Shea Bradshaw 3-8 0-1 11, Tony Trudnowski 3-9 0-1 8, Sam Conley 10-13 2-2 24, Billy Williams 0-2 0-0 0, Nate Harris 2-2 0-0 5, Matt Nottingham 3-6 0-1 7, DC Egge 0-3 0-0 0, Maurice Williams 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 27-61 10-16 72.

Halftime — Eastern Oregon 41-35. 3-point goals — Eastern 8-24 (Templeton 1-2, M. Carollo 4-10, McIntosh 3-5, P. Carollo 0-1, Cropper 0-1, Finley 0-1, Blanchard 0-3, Fryer 0-1), Tech 8-23 (Harman 0-2, Bradshaw 2-7, Trudnowski 2-4, Conley 2-3, Harris 1-1, Nottingham 1-2, Egge 0-3, M. Williams 0-1). Rebounds — Eastern 39 (P. Carollo 10), Tech 39 (Briggs 8). Assists — Eastern 17 (Blanchard 5), Tech 15 (Harman 3). Turnovers — Eastern 17, Tech 17. Steals — Eastern 5 (P. Carollo 3), Tech 4 (Bradshaw 2). Blocks — Eastern 3 (M. Carollo 2), Tech 3 (Conley 2). Fouled out — nonReporter Leslie McCartney may be reached at leslie.mccartney@mtstandard.come. Total fouls — Eastern 18, Tech 19. Technical fouls — none.