Eastern Oregon upsets No. 20 Oregon Tech, ties CCC lead

Eastern Oregon men’s basketball delivered a statement road win, knocking off No. 20 Oregon Tech 87-74 at Danny Miles Court in front of more than 2,000 hostile fans. The result snapped the Owls’ six-game streak, moved the Mountaineers into a three-way tie for first place in the Cascade Collegiate Conference at 6-1, and injected momentum into Union County’s flagship program.

From the opening half, Eastern combined sturdy defense with efficient scoring. After trailing 4-0, the Mountaineers settled in and closed the first half on top, 38-29, holding Oregon Tech to 32.4 percent shooting and 1-of-10 from three. The second half widened the margin: a quick trio from Logan Orchard and a scoring burst from Keilan Torkornoo pushed the lead into double digits, and Eastern’s advantage reached 18 points midway through the period. Oregon Tech’s rally attempts, including hot stretches from Grant Tull, were met by calm execution and strong free-throw shooting from the Mounties.

Torkornoo anchored the victory with a 21-point, 11-rebound double-double, repeatedly attacking the paint and controlling the glass. Orchard shot 6-of-7 for 18 points while adding seven rebounds and five assists; Eamon Monahan matched Orchard’s 18 points and was a perfect 4-of-4 at the line. Depth also mattered: James Bodily contributed 11 points off the bench with two three-pointers, Isaiah Jones added eight, and Cole Hammack chipped in six. Trent Rogers facilitated with four assists as Eastern shared the ball well, posting 14 assists on 29 made field goals.

Team efficiency was striking. The Mountaineers shot 51.8 percent from the floor, 50 percent from three (11-of-22), and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line (18-of-21). Defensively they limited Oregon Tech to 37.7 percent overall and 25.9 percent from distance, converting 14 Owl turnovers into 20 points for Eastern.

For Union County, the win has both symbolic and practical significance. It raises EOU’s regional profile for recruiting, energizes alumni and student engagement, and helps sustain the local sports economy tied to game-day activity. The result also reshapes CCC dynamics: with Oregon Tech and Southern Oregon at 6-1 alongside Eastern, every remaining conference game turns into a high-leverage matchup with postseason implications.

The Mountaineers left Klamath Falls riding a confidence boost and deeper rotation, qualities that matter in close conference races. Our two cents? Circle the next EOU home game on your calendar, back the Mounties at home in La Grande, and expect tight, high-stakes nights as the CCC race tightens.