Miller Does it Again in Beacon Victory

Perry, in his first start off the season, added 11 points and five rebounds. Miller finished with eight points and a pair of blocked shots and Quick-Warner also scored eight, along with a game-high six assists. Andrew Williams led NCU on the boards with six.

Salem-News.com Sports

EUGENE, Ore. - Junior Andrew Miller (North Eugene HS) hit a layup with four seconds to play off a perfect pass from Erik Quick-Warner, giving the Northwest Christian University men’s basketball team a 67-66 victory over Concordia on Friday evening. The play leading up to Miller’s shot was nearly identical to one taken in a one-point victory at home last season.

Concordia took control early and led for the first 30 minutes of the game. The Cavs took a 4-0 lead on free-throws and expanding the advantage to 11-4 with 14:42 remaining in the first half after a jumper by Alex Tiefenthaler. NCU closed the gap to one, as a Brent McKee three-point play made it 17-16 with 9:20 to go.

The Cavs were able to spread the lead again to nine, but NCU rallied with a 7-2 run to close out the half and climb within four, 31-27. McKee finished the half with seven points to lead the Beacons while Tiefenthaler led all scorers with nine points in the period.

The Cavs led by as many as six in the early goings of the second half, grabbing a 37-31 lead with 17:20 remaining. The Beacons, however, continued to pressure CU defensively, holding the Cavaliers to just 34% shooting in the half as they NCU slowly climbed back. Dylan Perry gave the Beacons their first lead, 47-46 with just over ten minutes to play and before long it was NCU in control, holding a six-point lead, 55-49 with seven to play.

Concordia again climbed back to take a lead and over the final five minutes, the teams fought back and forth with ten lead changes and ten one-point leads. After a pair of free-throws by Jordan Whittenburg put NCU ahead 65-64 with 30 seconds remaining, The Cavs took the ball down court to set up one final play. Steven Vaughan was fouled with nine seconds and hit both of his free-throws to give Concordia a 66-65 lead.

After a timeout, Quick-Warner brought the ball down and found Miller waiting alone under the basket for the easy lay-in and the game winner. Miller said, “My guy came off to give help and Quick did a great job to find me wide open underneath.”

“It’s a play that we like to run with time winding down,” said Head Coach Dave Lipp. “We try to spread out their defense so that they can’t help, and if they do than someone will be open. That’s exactly what happened and I’m glad it worked out tonight.”

The Beacons (8-4, 2-1 CCC) were led in the game off the bench by McKee, hitting 4-for-6 from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 at the charity stripe for 15 points. The Beacons continued their solid free-throw shooting, hitting on 89% of their attempts in the game (25-for-28).

Perry, in his first start off the season, added 11 points and five rebounds. Miller finished with eight points and a pair of blocked shots and Quick-Warner also scored eight, along with a game-high six assists. Andrew Williams led NCU on the boards with six.

Concordia (5-7, 0-3), who has now lost five straight, got a double-double from Tiefenthaler, finishing with 19 points and ten rebounds. Vaughan added 12 points and Matt Ochs finished with six points and ten rebounds.

The Beacons will be back in action tomorrow afternoon as they play host to Corban College at 3:30 PM.

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