EUGENE, Ore.  – One of the hottest teams in NAIA D.II men's basketball stayed that way on Saturday afternoon as the No. 12 NCU men's basketball team beat No. 5 Eastern Oregon University, 93-90, behind a 27-point day from sophomore Kenny Blackwell (pictured).
 
Trailing by as many as 13 points in the second half, the Mountaineers slowly chipped away to keep the game close. With 5:29 remaining, freshman Max McCullough hit a pair of free throws to make it a one point game, 78-77. The Beacons, however, scored the next seven points with layups from Jay Mayernik and Brendyn Taylor before a three-pointer from Blackwell.
 
A McCullough three-pointer brought EOU within 88-84 with 2:29 remaining but NCU hung on for the three-point win.
 
NCU (15-3, 9-2 CCC) shot 45% in the game and hit ten three-pointers. They collected eight blocks, including four from Jay Mayernik who also scored 16 points and had eight rebounds. Blackwell finished with four three pointers and added five rebounds and five steals to his 27 points. Taylor scored 16 points and Malik Heptot came off the bench to produce ten.
 
Eastern Oregon (15-5, 8-3) was held to just 37% shooting but they out-rebounded NCU 51-43. The Mounties also struck right at their average with 11 three-pointers. Bryan McGriff was the top dog, posted 18 points as he went 10-for-10 from the free-throw line. He also tied teammate Kentrell Washington for the game high in rebounds with 12. McCullough finished with 16 points in the loss, hitting 4-for-9 from three-point range, and Blake O'Donnell scored 15.
 
The Beacons will put their seven-game winning streak on Sunday at 3:00, taking on No. 17 College of Idaho in their second straight top-25 matchup. EOU, who has lost three straight, will look to bounce back against Corban on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.