via Oregon Tech Athletic Communications
FULLERTON, Calif. – Five players scored in double-figures, leading host Hope International to the title of the Royals Thanksgiving Classic, an 80-63 victory over Oregon Tech inside Darling Pavilion.
Aman Haynes scored a season-high 20 points – including a 3-point play in a 9-0 second half run that gave the No. 23 ranked Royals (7-1) a 75-55 lead.
OIT (5-3) had their lone lead of the afternoon at 11-10 following a Sean Chris Tresvant 3-pointer, but the Royals answered – getting triples from Collin Weems and Cade Potter in a 18-3 run that built the hosts a 28-14 lead.
The Owls battled their way back, as Jared Sucher scored five straight points early in the second half and Jackson Cooper converted on consecutive possessions on the block, cutting the margin to 46-41 with 17 minutes remaining.
HIU answered, as Potter hit a long 3-pointer – starting a 10-0 run – as the lead for the Royals stayed in double-digits the rest of the afternoon.
Sucher scored a career-high 21 points in the loss – the only OIT player in double-figures. Cooper finished with eight points, Tresvant scored seven, with Gylan Payne leading Tech with nine rebounds – as HIU held the Owls to 39% shooting on the day.
Tech has the weekend off, preparing for the start of Cascade Conference play – hosting Evergreen State next Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
