EUGENE, Ore. – An administrative technical and ensuing free-throw to start the game proved to be a difference-maker as the Bushnell men's basketball team defeated Corban University on Tuesday night, 83-82 in Cascade Collegiate Conference action at Dave Lipp Court.
 
"It was a great team win tonight," said Beacon Head Coach Eddie Alexander. "The team showed resiliency in coming back after giving up a large lead. We could have shot free throws better in the second half and given ourselves a little more of a cushion, but our grit tonight was fantastic."
 
When the Corban coaching staff failed to get their starting lineup posted with the official scorer at the ten-minute mark pre-game, an administrative technical foul was issued, allowing Bushnell a single free-throw before the opening tipoff. Squeeky Johnson hit that shot for what would prove to be a critical 1-0 lead to begin the contest.
 
The Beacons (9-9, 6-5 CCC) put together an impressive first half, shooting 59% from the field and leading by as many as 19 points before taking a 50-39 advantage into the intermission. It was the visitors, however, who came out playing inspired ball in the second half, blitzing the Beacons with a 19-4 run over the first five and a half minutes to take the lead, 58-54.
 
It would be the first of six lead changes over the final stretch of what turned out to be a memorable game in the long-standing rivalry between CCC Willamette Valley foes.
 
Keenan Reckamp (pictured) provided a spark for the Beacons off the bench on Tuesday, giving the lead back to Bushnell with four straight free-throws.
 
For the Warriors, it was Clyde Harris Jr. putting the team on his back, twice giving the Warriors the lead on consecutive possessions. On both counts, the junior guard completed old fashioned three-point plays and with 4:43 remaining, Corban led 76-74.
 
Bushnell took the lead for good on a Kaleb Burnett free-throw with 1:43 remaining, and a pair of Roy Bunn freebies at the 1:12 mark gave the Beacons an 83-80 advantage. Corban tightened the screws defensively over the final minute, successfully turning the ball over twice and pulling to within one.
 
Corban managed to get one final shot off in the paint as time expired, but Joe Gould's shot didn't fall and Bushnell completed the season sweep.
 
The Beacons were led by Cory Johnson, finishing the game with 21 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Burnett added 17 points and seven boards while Reckamp ended his night with 13.
 
Corban (8-11, 4-7) was led by Harris, finishing with a game-high 24 points as he shot 9-for-9 from the field. TJ Zimmermann posted 19 points while Gould did a little of everything, scoring ten points, eight assists, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks.
 
UP NEXT: The Beacons, who have now opened the second half of the CCC circuit in sixth-place with a two-game lead over seventh-place Corban, stay home on Thursday night to play host to Warner Pacific University (5-13, 1-9) at 7:30 pm.