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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels November 29, 2004 Another last-second loss leaves SOU men 0-3 By Joe Zavala Ashland Daily Tidings Southern Oregon's defense is right on schedule. The offense is another matter. Southern Oregon junior guard peter nelson dribbles past a Western Oregon defender during Saturday night's nonconference game at McNeal Pavilion in Ashland. The Wolves won, 56-55, after Nelson missed two potential game-winning shots. Andrew Mariman | Ashland Daily Tidings Peter Nelson missed two potential game-winning shots in the last five seconds, as Western Oregon held on for a 56-55 win over the snake-bitten Raiders Saturday night at McNeal Pavilion. Nelson missed a leaner from the right baseline as the clock wound down, but went high for the rebound in the middle of the key. His desperation follow tip was too strong off the backboard as the buzzer sounded. "I tried to put something up on the rim that, if it didn't go in, we could get another shot at," Nelson said. "We got another good look and I barely missed it." The loss dropped the 16th-ranked Raiders to 0-3 on the season. All three losses have gone down to the wire. Western improved to 2-2. The visiting Wolves missed an opportunity to extend their lead when guard Kevin Tyner bricked two free throws with 15.8 seconds left. After a timeout, SOU worked the ball to forward Shea Washington. Washington was immediately double teamed and passed the ball out to Nelson to set up the frantic finish. Washington, who entered the game averaging 26 points and 9.5 rebounds, was held to 10 points and six boards. Raider forward Brad Coen led SOU with 16 points, while Travis Elam added 11 points and five rebounds. Western was paced by Evan Kieling's 15 points and 13 rebounds. The loss spoiled SOU's best defensive performance of the young season. The Raiders held the Wolves to 34 percent shooting (18-for-53) and had hands in faces all night long. Western, which held SOU to 39 percent shooting (17-for-44), overcame that deficit by outrebounding the Raiders 38-33, including 13-6 on the offensive glass. "That killed us," Raider guard Steve Farley said. "That's (13) extra possessions that they had � and in a one-point game that's a lot of chances." Western trailed 27-26 at halftime, but used an 11-2 early in the second half to take control. SOU was forced to play catch-up the rest of the way and finally did with 3:32 left, when freshman guard Thomas Ward soared in for a driving layup that tied the game at 53. The Wolves grabbed the lead back for good on their next possession on guard Kevin Tyner's pull up jumper. Washington had a chance to tie the game at the free throw line with 17.1 seconds left, but missed his first attempt before sinking the second. SOU head coach Brian McDermott was disappointed with the finish, but said there were plenty of good signs for his team, mostly at the defensive end. As for the offense, which struggled to get set against Western's pressure defense, McDermott is confident that it will improve with time. "Those are things that are going to get taken care of with games," he said. "If we play defensively like that, we're going to be very good. I'm more optimistic after that game than I have been at any time. I think we're going to be a very good basketball team." SOU has only three games remaining on its preseason schedule. Next up is Friday's clash with NCAA Division III Linfield, at McMinnville. The following night, the Raiders play at Willamette before wrapping up the preseason Dec. 11 at home against Pacific Union. The Raiders' Cascade Conference opener is Dec. 17 at Concordia. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams