SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - The Ottawa University Arizona men's basketball team fell on Saturday evening to the University of Antelope Valley by a final of 83-66 in their final game of the Jersey Mikes' Fall Classic; hosted by The Master's University in Santa Clarita, California.
With the loss, the Spirit fall to 2-4 overall on the season. With the victory, the University of Antelope Valley Pioneers improve to 3-2 overall on the year.
"Our effort was poor tonight," said OUAZ head men's basketball Matt Keeley. "Things never go well when your effort is not good. That starts with me and I can't wait to get back to practice and fix it!"
Keeley continued, "Antelope Valley has a good ball club and I wish them the best the rest of the year."
It was a tale of two halves on Saturday evening in Santa Clarita. OUAZ and Antelope Valley battled throughout the first 20 minutes of action. The Spirit finished the half 15-of-34 from the field, but only 3-for-10 from beyond the three-point arc. The Pioneers shot 14-for-33 from the field, and they struggled from distance as well, shooting 4-of-10. Each team made just two free-throws each in the first half and the Spirit would finish the half with a slim 35-34 lead.
In the second half, the Pioneers took over for good and sealed their 83-66 victory over the Spirit. Antelope Valley outscored OUAZ 49-31 in the second half, and shot an astounding 16-for-30 from the field. The Spirit shot just 8-of-21 from the field and 2-for-8 from beyond the three-point arc. OUAZ was outrebounded 19-13 in the second half and turned the ball over ten times.
In the loss, three players finished in double-figure scoring for the Spirit. Tanner Riley (JR/Salt Lake City, UT) led the way with 27 points on 9-of-17 shooting in 34 minutes of action. He also finished with five rebounds, four assists, and four steals.
The Spirit men's basketball team returns to California next Friday and Saturday for a pair of games in the 2017 Hope Thanksgiving Classic. OUAZ will square off against Hope International University at 4pm Arizona time on November 24th, followed by a 2pm tip-off the next day against The California College of Divinity.
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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.
