Coos Bay, Ore. - The Titans came into their road contest at Southwestern Oregon (SWOCC) on a four-game losing streak despite two consecutive career-high scoring games by Isaac Lange. But third time was the charm as the Titans got a third consecutive career-high in scoring from Lange, as his 35 points were enough for the Titans to pull out an 88-81 win.
How it happened
First Half: The Titans were down three early but went on a 9-2 run to the 15:46 and led by four thanks to seven points from Ty Horner and five from Isaac Lange. Lange scored two more quick baskets that extended the Titans lead to six, 17-11, with 14:36 remaining.
SWOCC closed the gap to two points, 22-20, with 8:48 to go, but the Titans went on a 9-2 run to the 7:15 mark after two threes from Jake Willemsen and a three by Rodney Hounshell gave the Titans a 31-22 lead. A 9-2 response run by SWOCC made it a two-point game again with 4:03 remaining. Then a 5-0 SWOCC run to the 1:37 mark put the Titans down for the first time in the game, 40-39. The Titans retook the lead with a short 5-3 run to lead 44-43 at half.
Isaac Lange led all scorers with 18 points and added four assists, three rebounds and one steal while playing all 20 minutes. The Titans 47.4 percent from the floor with six threes and a plus six rebound advantage.
Second half: The Titans started on a 7-2 run over the first 2:05 to extend their lead to six, 51-45, after Isaac Lange added five more points to his total. SWOCC closed the gap to one at the 14:47 mark, 53-52, and 13:54, 57-56, before tying the game at 59 and then taking a four-point lead with 12:56 remaining.
Dominic McGarvey made a three to cut the deficit to one with 11:00 remaining and sparked a 14-0 run to the 8:14 mark that gave the Titans a 10-point lead, 75-65. A 9-4 SWOCC run to the 4:28 mark cut the Titans lead to five, 79-74. Then at the 1:34 mark, SWOCC got within one-possession, 82-79, but Isaac Lange made a layup to push to the lead to five and the Titans made all four of their free throws over the final 53 seconds to pull out the win.
Isaac Lange did not match his first half scoring total of 18 points, but he still managed a solid 17 points and was a more productive facilitator with three assists and five rebounds while completing the entire 40 minutes on the floor. Rodney Hounshell was also productive with 11 points and five rebounds.
The Titans shot a crazy 64 percent with a plus eight rebound advantage, but six more turnovers are what kept the game close.
What stood out:
81 points allowed: The Titans move to 1-8 when allowing 80 points or more to an NWAC opponent … 88 points scored: The Titans are 5-1 versus non-JV opponents when scoring 88 or more points … 10 made threes: Nine of the Titans 11 wins (not including one California game with no stats) when making double digit threes.
Who stood out:
Isaac Lange: 35 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and one steal; 35 points in a new career-high, set career-high in each of the previous two games with 26 and 27 points; all four of Lange's 20-point games have come in the last 21 days and seven games; the Titans are 3-1 when Lange has five plus rebounds and assists each; 11th game with five plus rebounds; the Titans are 6-2 when Lange has an assist/turnover ratio of 2.3 or better … Rodney Hounshell: 17 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and a steal; seventh double-double; double figure scoring in 20 of 21 games … Ty Horner: 13 points, five rebounds and one steal.
What it means: Titans are in eighth place, 3.5 games out of the fourth and final playoff spot with four games remaining. Meaning the Titans need to win their last four and have fourth place Chemeketa loose three of their final four to just tie.
What's next: The Titans (12-11, 3-9) have a bye on Saturday before traveling to Salem to face fourth place Chemeketa (12-11, 6-5) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.