Warriors upset NAIA’s No. 4 Oregon Tech in overtime thriller

December 3, 2005

BOX SCORE

SALEM, Ore. – On an emotion-laden, record-breaking night for senior All-American Eric Fiegi (Medford, Ore.), the Corban men’s basketball team upset the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ (NAIA) No. 4-ranked Oregon Institute of Technology, 109-107, in overtime on Saturday night.

Fiegi brothers Corban's Eric (#42) & Oregon Tech's Ryan (#15) Combined for 87 points (Eric - 55 & Ryan - 32)

Fiegi, the Warriors No. 3 all-time leading scorer, hit for a new Corban College single-game scoring record with 55 points, including the game-winning shot with 2.5 seconds to go in the overtime period.  It came on a night when the 6-foot-9 South Medford High School graduate was squaring off with his younger brother, Ryan Fiegi, for the first time ever.  Fiegi’s career-high total came on a 21-for-27 shooting night and broke a school scoring mark set by former Warrior Roger Mosier, who scored 52 versus Northwest way back in February of 1970. 

“It feels good, especially when it comes with a big win,” said Fiegi about his record breaking night.  “It’s almost something that hasn’t sunk in yet.  A great achievement and it would not have been possible without my teammates giving me the opportunity to score.  It was a really special time for me.”

Junior Ryan Heil (Medford, Ore.), a former high school teammate of Eric Fiegi, banked in a three-pointer with 1.8 seconds remaining in regulation to knot the score at 96-apiece and send the game into overtime.

“It was a good game overall,” said Fiegi.  “Everybody played a part. Without (Ryan) Heil’s 3 at the end, we don’t go into overtime. And Ben (Sisler) had a huge bucket in overtime.  Everybody did their part, especially in overtime.”

Though Oregon Tech ended up on the short-end, the younger Fiegi had an impressive game of his own, leading the visitors with 32 points on 12-for-22 shooting from the field. The two Fiegi’s combined for 57 points in the second half and overtime, with Eric hitting for 38 and Ryan scoring 19.

“Being my senior year and really never having had the opportunity to play with him or against him, it was special to get a chance to play against him in a huge rival game,” said the elder Fiegi.  “It’s not an opportunity that a lot of people get to have.  I am very thankful to have that.”

With the win, Corban climbs to 6-3 and 1-1 in conference play.  Oregon Tech drops to 6-3, 0-2 in conference play.  The Warriors are next in action on Tuesday, December 6th, when they go head-to-head with George Fox University beginning at 7:30 p.m. in Newberg.