STEPHENVILLE, Texas—Closing out the non-conference portion of the schedule, the No. 16-ranked Western Oregon University men's basketball team defeated Tarleton State, 80-72, on Tuesday.
With the win, Western Oregon improved to 9-1 on the season and will return to Great Northwest Athletic Conference action on Sunday, Dec. 17 by hosting Alaska Anchorage. Opening tip is set for 5 p.m. inside the New P.E. Building. UAA will arrive in Monmouth sporting a 6-4 record and a 2-0 mark in GNAC play.
After going 0-for-2 in the first half, WOU's
Demetrius Trammell erupted for 16 points after the break to hold off Tarleton State (6-4) inside the Wisdom Gym.
WOU's defense lifted the team to an early lead as the Texans were 0-for-5 from the field with five turnovers through the first five minutes of action to allow the Wolves a 9-0 lead.
The Texans were able to climb back into the game thanks to 18 free throw attempts before the Wolves first trip to the line. Tarleton State made 9-of-10 from the charity stripe in the first half and used the six early trips in the second half by Corinthian Ramsey to take the team's first lead of the game (38-37) with 17:29 on the clock.
The two team's traded baskets over the next 10 minutes before a Trammell 3-pointer gave WOU a 64-60 advantage. After missed 3-pointers on both ends, WOU's J.J. Chirnside provided a key bucket and a follow-up free throw with 3:30 to play for a 67-62 spread.
Moments later, Trammell faked a 3-point shot and darted to the rim for a contested layup while Vince Boumann provided a spirit-breaking layup with under a minute to play. Trammell completed the flourish with four straight free throw makes and is now 24-for-25 (.960) from the line this season.
Trammell's 16 points led the team but was immediately followed by
Tanner Omlid (15) and Boumann (14). Chirnside also reached double figures with 10 points while
Riley Hawken added seven points and seven boards.
TSU's Ramsey led all players with 25 points on 7-of-20 shooting.
