The Titans started the game well, but the Cougars took control and held a double-digit lead for 13 straight minutes before the Titans took the lead back with two seconds remaining in their thrilling 100-99 victory over visiting Clackamas.
How it happened: The 1st half was separated by two possessions or fewer for almost 14 minutes. The Titans largest lead of the game came with 14:07 remaining, 20-14.
The first three possession lead of the game came at the 6:33 mark when Clackamas' Robert Ford made a three and extended their lead to eight, 36-28. The Titans closed the gap to four with 5:14 remaining, but that would be the closest the game was for the remainder of the half.
It was a 15-point margin after a 13-2 Cougar run with 3:19 remaining; it forced a Titan full timeout. The Titans and Cougars each scored four points to finish the half, Cougars leading 55-40.
Clackamas shot 48.7 percent and made eight of 17 threes. The Titans shot a miserable 31.7 percent and made up ground by making 10-15 free throws. Tashon Brown had 15 points, three rebounds and three steals; all but three of the Titans' 40 points came from the starters.
The largest lead for either team came 50 seconds into the 2nd half when the Cougars took a 17-point lead. The Titans immediately responded with a 9-0 run over the next 1:54.
An 8-0 Cougar run from the 13:54 to 13:02 mark extended their lead to what felt an insurmountable 17 points, 70-53.
A 12-3 response by the Titans forced a full Clackamas timeout with 10:43 remaining. Despite Clackamas scoring four straight out of the timeout, the Titans went on another run, this time an 8-0 run and were only down one possession, 76-73 with 8:34 to go. This was the first time the Titans were within one possession since the 7:51 mark of the 1st half, when they were down 30-28.
Some back and forth action left the Titans down eight with 7:09 remain. They wouldn't close the gap to one possession again until the 4:15 mark when Tashon Brown made a three to move with three, 93-90. Brown followed up his three with a steal and layup to make it a one-point deficit with 3:51 to go.
Clackamas didn't waiver, maintaining their lead until Tarik Cool made a leaning three with 20 seconds to go to tie the game at 99. It was the first tie or lead for the Titans since the 11:03 mark of the 1st half when it was 24 all.
The Titans took a timeout with 17 seconds left and 11 seconds out of the timeout Jamie Stull got what looked like a clean look at a layup the Cougars, but Tashon Brown came from behind for the block.
Clackamas took a full timeout with four seconds remaining and immediately afterwards turned the ball over after a miss-handled in-bound pass with three seconds remaining.
The Titans thought they had zero timeouts and threw the ball to the other free throw line for Lucas Wilson and when Wilson went up he got under cut from the front and landed on by the defender behind him. Wilson went to the line where he was shooting 79 percent on the season, but struggling during the game, making only 4-8 on to that point. He missed the first, but made the second. After a Titan 30-second timeout, the Cougars got a desperation half-court three that went over the backboard to end the game.
Clackamas still shot the ball well in the 2nd half, shooting 47.1 percent and making 9-16 threes. They had two starters foul out. The Titans shot 48.8 percent and only made 7-21 threes, but a plus 10 mark at the line made up the ground. Tarik Cool had 22 points, five assists and three steals; Tashon Brown had 14 more points; Lucas Wilson was the other Titan in double-figures with 11 points, he added four rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
What/who stood out: 15 fouls marks the first NWAC and 2nd overall game with fewer than 20 fouls; the Titans have averaged 26.5 fouls in their two losses…22 assists is now three of four games over 20; they are 0-2 when not reaching 20…40.2 percent shooting is the second lowest of the season; the loss vs Chemeketa was the lowest, 35.8 percent…11 threes is now four straight games and six of seven with 10 plus made …14 steals tied for the most vs an NWAC opponent…40 rebounds makes the Titans 3-0 when reaching the 40 rebound mark.
Tashon Brown smashed his career-high with 29 points, previous high was 20 two times; he added five rebounds and tied a career-high with five steals…Lucas Wilson had a steady 13 points, six rebounds, two blocks, a steal and assist…Tarik Cool matched Brown with 29 points; he added seven assists, tied a career-high with five steals and two rebounds.
What it means: The Titans are now tied with two teams for 1st place at 6-1. They are now 17-2 overall and ranked no.2.
What's next: The Titans travel to fellow 1st place and 6th ranked Umpqua (13-7, 6-1) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.