Box Score PORTLAND, Ore. – Led by Ben Schneiders' 18 points in his first varsity game, the Multnomah University Lions placed six players in double-digit scoring to pick up their first men's basketball home win of the season 104-81 over the New Hope Christian College Deacons Tuesday night here at Lytle Gym.
Jumping out to a 5-0 lead on a three-pointer by Ben Grandle and a layup by Beau Shockley and never trailing in the game, the Lions totally dominated the first half. A three by Darius Redrick gave the Lions their first double-digit lead at 24-13 with 13:44 left in the period, and the lead hit 20 at the 7:27 mark when Schneiders drained a three for a 39-19 margin. The gap hit 30 twice in the half on threes by DJ Ahana and Schneiders, and the Lions held a 61-35 advantage at the break.
Multnomah hit 23-of-46 (.500) from the field in the first half, including 13-of-24 (.542) from beyond the arc, while holding New Hope to 15-of-41 (.366) and 4-of-19 (.211) from long range. The Lions also out-rebounded the Deacons 34-15, allowing the visitors no offensive boards. Schneiders had a team-high 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting, all threes, and
Jon Viles nearly had a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. Michael Frank led the Deacons with 15 points in the opening 20 minutes.
The Lions took their largest lead of the game with 14:05 to play, a layup by Ahana making it 76-45. The Deacons managed to get within 17 at 82-65 on a three by Christian Chapman with 7:38 left, but the Lions scored the next nine points to pull away again. A jumper by
Jon Viles with 1:57 remaining made it 101-76, putting the home team over the century mark for the first time this season.
--- By the Numbers: Schneiders, in his first game since moving up from the junior varsity program, was 6-of-8 from the floor, all threes. He was joined in the scoring column by Brett Blackstock with 15, Ahana and Viles with 14 each, Ted Hilliard with 11, and Redrick with 10. Viles and Blackstock just missed double-doubles with nine caroms apiece, and Ahana added eight boards as Multnomah held a 52-37 advantage on the glass. Trey Fountain passed out 12 assists, nine in the first half, and Blackstock added seven. As fast-paced as the game was, there were surprisingly-few turnovers, only six for Multnomah and seven for New Hope.
Frank led all scorers with 28 for the Deacons, while Jebari Robinson added 19, Chapman 13, and Emerson Hoffman 12. DeMario Harris grabbed 10 rebounds, and Robinson contributed seven assists.
Multnomah is now 2-3 on the season, while New Hope fell to 1-10.
--- Quoting coach Curt Bickley: "Great shooting night by our guards. DJ and Ben combining for 10 threes was awesome. Trey's 12 assists were cool as well."
--- Next: Multnomah visits Pacific University (Ore.) in Forest Grove on Saturday for a non-conference game at 7:00 p.m. … New Hope plays a week from Wednesday at home against Lane Community College at 7:00 p.m.
