KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - The Beacons partied like it was 1985 in Saturday night, upsetting No. 7 Oregon Tech 79-68 for their first win on Danny Miles Court in over 30 years. It was the Cascade Collegiate Conference opener for both schools and the first loss of the season for the Owls. 

Junior Post Jay Mayernik was a baby in the fall of 1985 when the then Crusaders defeated the Owls 68-59 but he was a man's man on Saturday, scoring 13 of his 15 points in the second half as NCU pulled ahead and pulled away. NCU shot 46% from the field over the final 20 minutes and responded to a 34-32 halftime deficit by holding the OIT to a 35% clip. 

Senior Austin Kuemper picked up his fourth foul for the Beacons just 70 seconds into the second half, and the loss seemed to catalyze NCU as they opened on a 15-4 run to go ahead by nine points, 47-38 with 13:37 to play. OIT was never closer than six from there out. OIT head coach Danny Miles, in his 45th season at the helm of the Owls, began his final CCC campaign on Saturday as he announced his retirement prior to the start of the season. 

Head Coach Luke Jackson said, "The team just wanted to dedicate that win to all of the alumni that went to OIT over the past 30 years and couldn't get it done. We talked alot about that this week. All the credit over the years goes to coach Miles and the standard of excellence that he has set for his program."

NCU (7-3, 1-0 CCC) was led by freshman point guard Kenny Blackwell, scoring 20 points as he shot 7-for-10 from the field. Mayernik was 5-for-8 for his 15 points, adding nine rebounds. Three other players were in double-figures as Omar Richards connected for a double-double with 14 points and ten boards, Javonte Byrd posted 13 points, four assists and three steals, and Jordan Alexander came off the bench to score ten. The NCU reserves outscored the OIT bench on the night, 30-24.

""Tonight was really about competing and executing," said Jackson. "Our bench has just been coming in like their hair is on fire on defense and that has really given us a boost."

Oregon Tech (7-1, 0-1) was led by Joel Yellow-Owl, scoring 20 points as he shot 7-for-14. Lavar Moore scored 13 while Derek Evans came off the bench to add 12 points and a team-leading seven rebounds. Three-point shooting proved to be a difference-maker on Saturday as the Owls were just 5-for-23 from outside while NCU went 9-for-20. 

The schedule doesn't get any easier for the Beacons as they travel to Ashland High School on Sunday at 3:00 pm to take on No. 13 Southern Oregon University. The Raiders (7-2, 1-0) opened up CCC action with an 86-84 overtime win against Corban on Saturday night. 

OIT remains at home and will face Corban University, also at 3:00 pm. The Warriors are currently 4-3 and 0-1 in the CCC.