via Oregon Tech Athletic Communications
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Jackson Cooper recorded the first triple-double by an Oregon Tech player in six seasons, as the Hustlin’ Owls converted 56% of their field goal attempts in a dominating 98-66 victory over College of Idaho at Danny Miles Court.
The win for OIT (12-4, 7-1 CCC) ended a 7-game regular-season losing streak to the defending NAIA national champions, with the 32-point margin of victory the third largest in the 108 all-time meetings between the top two small-college programs in the Northwest. The 98 points scored by the Owls was the most surrendered by a Colby Blaine led C of I club and the most allowed by the Idaho school since 2017.
Cooper was dominant, scoring 28 points against taller defenders, grabbing a career-high 16 rebounds and adding 10 assists – the first triple-double by an OIT player since Mitchell Fink in 2020.
The Yotes (10-6, 5-3) had control early, as Dougie Peoples scored 14 points in the opening eight minutes – hitting a 3-pointer to start a 14-2 run that gave C of I a 24-12 lead.
Tech answered with a Dakota Reber dunk – starting a string of runs that turned what was expected to be a battle into a rout. Grant Tull and James Kefgen connected on consecutive 3’s and Cooper hit a fade away jumper, cutting the lead to 24-22. Owen Nathan would drain a triple to give the Owls a 30-29 lead, Cooper turned a steal into a breakaway dunk and Tull capped the 23-5 flurry with a transition 3-pointer, giving the hosts a 35-29 edge.
The onslaught continued, as the Owls rattled off 10-straight points just before the break to extend the margin to 50-39 at the half.
Peoples tried to will C of I back in the game, fueling an 8-0 run with consecutive lay-ups, pulling the Coyotes within 59-53. The momentum was short-lived, as Cooper scored consecutive inside baskets, with Tull, Kefgen and Colby Whicker hitting a trio of triples in a 13-0 run that blew the game wide open.
OIT made 12-of-24 shots from 3-point range and finished with a 42-29 rebound advantage.
Reber scored 21 points, Tull scored 12 points, with Nathan finishing with seven points and eight assists.
Peoples finished with 25 points, with Utrillo Morris adding 19 for the Yotes, who were limited to 37% shooting by the Owls defense.
Tech hits the road for the next four games, beginning Tuesday night in Ashland with a match-up at Southern Oregon.