CALDWELL, Idaho – The Ottawa University Arizona men's basketball team claimed their first win in program history on Saturday evening in dramatic fashion. Junior guard Tanner Riley (JR/Salt Lake City, UT) nailed a three-pointer with 3.9 seconds remaining, to defeat the 7th ranked College of Idaho Yotes 67-66 on day two of the 31st Annual Taco Bell Shoot-Out.
With the victory, OUAZ improves to 1-1 on the season. Following the loss, the NAIA Division II 7th ranked College of Idaho Yotes fall to 1-1 overall.
"Our guys did a really good job of competing and executing throughout tonight's game," said OUAZ head men's basketball coach Matt Keeley. "We have plenty of things to work on going forward, but we will certainly enjoy this one tonight."
Saturday was one for the record books for the OUAZ men's basketball team. After the Spirit dropped their season opener the night before to a tough Eastern Oregon University team, OUAZ responded on Saturday evening to defeat an even tougher opponent; in 7th ranked College of Idaho.
In the first half, the Yotes from the College of Idaho held the slim edge on the scoreboard thanks in part to their rebounding and points at the charity stripe. OUAZ shot only 11-for-29 from the field in the first 20 minutes of the game. The Spirit got into foul trouble and were outrebounded and turned the ball over eight times. At the half, the Yotes lead the Spirit by a score of 33-28.
Ottawa University Arizona flipped the script in the second half on the College of Idaho, finishing with a .500 shooting percentage from the field while also converting on 13-of-16 free-throws. Saturday's contest came down to the wire and guard Tanner Riley sent the Spirit fans home happy with a victory, by knocking down a three-pointer to lead OUAZ to the 67-66 victory.
In the victory, four members from the Spirit finished in double-figures for scoring led by Tanner Riley. He finished with 22 points on 5-of-11 shooting, while also chiming in with nine rebounds and two steals in 38 minutes of action.
The Spirit men's basketball team returns to action in a little less than two weeks on November 10th, when they travel north to Prescott, Arizona for a match-up with Embry-Riddle (AZ) University at 6:30pm. OUAZ will then host their home opener a few days later on November 14th against cross-town rival Arizona Christian University at 7pm.
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About Ottawa University
Founded in 1865, Ottawa University prepares professional and liberal arts graduates for lifetimes of personal significance, vocational fulfillment and service to God and humanity within a Christ-inspired community of grace and open inquiry. Ottawa University is a comprehensive, not-for-profit educational institution serving 3,000 students through its residential campuses in Ottawa, Kan., and Surprise, Ariz., and adult campuses in Overland Park, Kan.; Phoenix, Queen Creek and Surprise, Ariz.; Brookfield, Wis.; Jeffersonville, Ind.; as well as online. For more information, visit www.ottawa.edu.
For more information about OUAZ athletics, visit http://www.ottawa.edu/ouaz/athletics. Follow OUAZ athletics on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OUAZSpiritAthletics/ and on Twitter twitter.com/OUAZSpirit.
