The OUAZ men's basketball team lost their home opener by a 91-90 final in overtime on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at Faith Arena on campus.

Bryce Fitzgerald led the Spirit (3-2) with 19 points and finished with 11 rebounds for a double-double.  Jacob Henry also pulled the trick with 17 points and ten assists.

Oregon Tech (4-1) had a four-point lead at halftime.  Three minutes into the second half, the Owls had built the lead to eight points.

That is when the Spirit (3-2) rallied.  In a 5:16 stretch of the middle portion of the second half, OUAZ outscored the Owls 20-7 to take a five-point lead.  That would be the last time in the game that either team led by more than two possessions. 

In the final 4:15, the lead changed five times, but Oregon Tech came back and tied it with a 4-0 run in the final 110 seconds.

The Owls outscored OUAZ 8-7 in the extra period.

• For the third time this season, the Spirit had all five starters score in double figures.
• The game featured nine lead changes and was tied six times.
• The last overtime game for the Spirit was in the first round of the NAIA National tournament last year (OUAZ defeated Baker University, 80-78).
• The last home overtime game was against The Master's University on Dec. 2, 2021, a loss.
• There have been four overtime (or double overtime) games in the history of Faith Arena; all have been OUAZ losses.
• 54 of the Spirit's 90 points were scored in the paint.
• The Spirit out rebounded Oregon Tech by two, 41-39.  On their final possession of regulation, Oregon Tech grabbed three rebounds before hitting a tying shot.
• Oregon Tech's bench outscored OUAZ's 21-9.

 The team will be back in action on Monday, Nov. 20 when they host Valley-rival Park-Gilbert.  Tip is scheduled for 7:00 pm inside Faith Arena.