NEW TOWN, N.D. — No. 15 Eastern Oregon used a 10-0 run late in the first half to build a double-digit advantage and defeated Dickinson State 79-61 Friday afternoon in the opening game of the 4 Bears Casino & Lodge Classic at the 4 Bears Event Center.
The Mountaineers (2-0), ranked 15th in the NAIA preseason coaches' poll, shot 54.9% from the field and held a 19-5 advantage in points off turnovers. Dickinson State (1-3) responded with a stronger offensive performance after halftime, scoring a season-high 40 second-half points on 51.7% shooting.
Senior Britton Cranston led the Blue Hawks with a season-high 12 points, all coming in the second half, while junior Adesoye Onaleye added 11 points and three assists.
Dickinson State held an early 4-2 lead before Eastern Oregon established an eight-point advantage midway through the opening half. The Blue Hawks answered behind 3-pointers from Aric Winczewski and Boston Cranston, trimming the deficit to 19-16 with 7:28 remaining.
Eastern Oregon maintained its advantage before making its decisive push in the final three minutes of the half. Leading 26-19, the Mountaineers scored 10 unanswered points, highlighted by 3-pointers from Cole Hammack and Isaiah Jones, to stretch their lead to 17. DC Stewart connected on a three pointer at the buzzer to send Dickinson State into halftime trailing 36-21.
The Mountaineers controlled the glass in the opening half, outrebounding the Blue Hawks 21-7 while holding Dickinson State to 33.3% shooting.
Dickinson State found more offensive success after the break, connecting on 15-of-29 field goal attempts and four 3-pointers over the final 20 minutes. Onaleye and Britton Cranston helped spark the improved production, with Cranston's early second-half 3-pointer bringing the Blue Hawks within 42-29.
Eastern Oregon continued to answer offensively, however, shooting 60% in the second half and eventually extending its advantage to 23 points. Dickinson State put together a late 7-0 run, with Britton Cranston contributing five points, to pull within 67-51 with just over four minutes remaining, but the Mountaineers maintained control down the stretch.
Cranston finished 5-of-9 from the field, recording his first double-figure scoring performance of the season. Onaleye scored nine of his 11 points after halftime and added two steals.
Senior Detavius Frierson contributed a team-high eight rebounds and three assists, both season highs. Winczewski added seven points, connecting on two 3-pointers, while Stewart, Michael Nance and Noah Hippen each finished with five. The Blue Hawks received a season-high 37 points from their bench.
Dickinson State shot 43.4% overall and 35.3% from beyond the arc. Eastern Oregon held a 31-22 rebounding advantage and converted 19-of-25 free throws, compared with 9-of-17 for the Blue Hawks.
Hammack led the Mountaineers with 14 points off the bench, while Logan Orchard added 12 points and six rebounds. Jones finished with 10 points.
The Blue Hawks conclude the 4 Bears Casino & Lodge Classic Saturday against California Prestige University. Tipoff is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. Mountain at the 4 Bears Event Center.
