KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Fifth-ranked Oregon Tech made the big plays down the stretch and held off Northwest 86-78 Friday.
 
Northwest found itself down 17 points, 34-17, with 8:44 left in the first half and managed to get within a point by halftime. Christian Hakilimali scored 12 points in a half-ending 29-13 run, and the Eagles trailed 47-46 at the intermission.
 
"That was a hard-fought game. It came down to the final minute," said NU Head Coach Jeff Drinkwine. "Our guys came to play and demonstrated their toughness in one of the toughest environments in the conference to play. We just need to move forward to another tough challenge at Southern Oregon."
 
The Eagles took their first and only lead of the second half with a Tanner Davis layup with 15 minutes to go. Oregon Tech quickly answered and held the lead until Ryan Ricks got a second-chance three-pointer to tie the game at 5:25, 74-74.
 
A free throw, a Matt Van Tassell dunk, and a put-back by Garret Albrecht gave the Owls a 79-74 lead with 1:08 to play. 
 
The Eagles, struggling with injuries, missed seven of their final nine shots.
 
Hakilimali led the Eagles with 24 points and eight assists, while Hussayn Ford added 19 points and nine rebounds. Davis added 12 points and Ricks 10. 
 
All-American Mitchell Fink paced the Owls with 40 points. 
 
Now 14-7 overall and 9-3 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, the Eagles get on the bus for a trip to Ashland and a 7:30 p.m. game at Southern Oregon Saturday.