MBB | Titans lose double digit lead in loss to Mt. Hood

Gresham, Ore. – The Titans squander an eight-point halftime lead in an 85-84 road loss to Mt. Hood.

How it happened:

First half: The Titans got off to a quick 5-0 start thanks to a dunk from Isaac Lange and a three from Jake Willemsen. The Titans regained their five-point advantage with a Ty Horner layup at the 12:33 mark. The Lead extended to eight off a Jesse Hubbe assisted, Dominic McGarvey layup at the 9:55 mark.

The Titans got their lead as high as 13 after Tashon Brown assisted on another Willemsen three with 2:51 remaining in the half. The lead remained in double figures until a Saint layup with 41 seconds remaining cut the lead to the halftime score of 42-34.

The Titans shot 44.4 percent with seven threes, 10 assists on 16 made field goals and only three turnovers.

Second half: The Saints had a four-point advantage in the first five minutes of the second half, but Brown found Lange for a three to extend the lead to three possessions, 53-46, 5:01 into the half. 38 seconds later a Saint layup started a 9-0 run that gave them the 55-53 lead with 7:21 gone in the half. Despite a Rodney Hounshell three that gave the Titans the one-point lead with 11:44 to go, the Saints extended their earlier run to 26-10 down to the 7:50 mark.

The Titans would respond. Down 10 with 5:43 remaining the Titans went on a 16-5 run to take the lead, 84-83, with 1:37 remaining; it was their first lead since the 11:44 mark. Despite the late game run, the Titans fell 85-84 due to a foul that gave the Saints the lead and a late turnover with six seconds remaining forced a three point attempt from Horner at the buzzer after a missed front end of a 1-and-1 free throw by Mt. Hood gave them one last chance.

The Titans allowed 61.8 percent shooting in the half and only shot 39.5 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from three.

Who stood out: Rodney Hounshell led the Titans in scoring with 20 points and added seven rebounds, five assists, two steals and one block.

Jake Willemsen made 6-12 shots from the field and three for 18 points and five rebounds. The six threes are the fourth game with six or more made threes and sixth game with five or more made threes. Willemsen is tied for seventh in the NWAC at 3.2 made threes a game and sixth in three-point percentage -- among players with seven or more three-point attempts per game – at 42.1 percent.

What stood out:  13 made threes is the eighth time in the last nine games with double digit made threes; the Titans are fifth in total made threes in the NWAC with 176. 20 assists is the first 20-assist game vs an NWAC opponent this season.

What it means: The Titans fall to a tie for seventh with Clark and Linn-Benton at 1-4. They are 1.5 games out of the fourth and final playoff spot.

What's next: The Titans (10-6, 1-4) host third place Chemeketa (9-8, 3-2) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.