EUGENE, Ore. (Interstat) — The Southern Oregon Raiders used a dominant first half and a standout performance from Gio Evanson to secure a 78-65 road victory over the Bushnell Beacons in a Cascade Collegiate Conference men’s basketball game Friday night.

The Raiders built an insurmountable 38-23 lead by halftime, capitalizing on efficient offense and stifling defense. Southern Oregon shot 51.7 percent from the field in the opening period while holding the Beacons to just 4-of-17 from three-point range for the entire game. The Raiders finished the night shooting 31 for 60 overall and 11 for 27 from beyond the arc, a marked contrast to Bushnell’s 4-for-17 long-distance shooting.

The most important stretch of the game came early, as Southern Oregon weathered Bushnell’s initial push and then steadily pulled away. After the Beacons’ Cory Johnson opened the scoring, the Raiders embarked on a decisive 17-4 run over the next six minutes. The surge was fueled by balanced scoring and defensive stops, establishing a tempo and lead that Bushnell, despite a higher-scoring second half, could never truly threaten.

Evanson, the Raiders’ top star, led all scorers with 18 points, adding five rebounds and four assists. His performance marked a significant rebound from his previous two outings, where he combined for just nine points. He was instrumental in the first-half separation, consistently finding seams in the Beacons’ defense.

Bryce Dyer provided a strong inside presence for Southern Oregon with 11 points and eight rebounds, while Elijah Jackson added 12 points. Jace Anderson contributed 10 points and five assists. For Bushnell, Kaleb Burnett led the way with 17 points and six rebounds. Cory Johnson, the Beacons’ forward, scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

Despite committing 10 turnovers to Bushnell’s 11, Southern Oregon won the possession battle through rebounding, holding a 34-28 advantage on the glass. The Raiders’ offensive rating of 116.8 on 67 possessions underscored their efficiency, compared to a 97.5 rating for the Beacons on the same number of possessions.

The victory improved Southern Oregon’s season record to 15-8, while Bushnell fell to 10-11. The game was a rematch of a Dec. 20 overtime contest won by the Raiders at home.

Southern Oregon, which entered the game with a 62.3 percent win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system, will face a quick turnaround, traveling to face Corban on Saturday. Bushnell will also play Saturday, hosting Oregon Tech.