Zach Richardson's Massive 50 Point Night Goes for Naught

 By Harry Cummins

     Multnomah University guard Zach Richardson scored a career high 50 points Wednesday night in a loosing effort as the winless Lions (0-8) dropped a 105-97 Cascade Collegiate Conference game to the Eastern Oregon Mountaineers.

     Richardson scored 31 of his 50 points in the first half as the Lions enjoyed a narrow 60-58 advantage at the break.    Richardson is currently the CCC's top scorer this season (27.62 ppg) and heir apparent to the NAIA's leading scorer the past two years, former teammate Justin Martin.

     The 50 point explosion from the 6'0" soph guard was just one point shy of the highest single game point total in the NAIA this year.  Kyle Mangas of Indiana Wesleyan and Deshawn Munson of Harris-Stowe, each scored 51 points earlier in the season.  Mangas is currently the nation's leading scorer  (29.74ppg) and a candidate to repeat his selection last season as the Bevo Francis Award winner presented annually to the NAIA's Player of the Year.

     Richardson exceeded his previous career high of 49 points, which came during his freshman season in 2018-19.  In addition to the 50 point effort Wednesday night, Richardson flirted with a triple-double as he had 8 assists and 7 rebounds, to go with 2 steals. He also drained a career-tying 16 field goals while nearly perfect from the foul line, converting 11 of 12 free throws. His 7 3-pointers on the night tied his season high, but fell well short of his career high 13.

     Yet to play a home game, Multnomah stays on the road for games Friday and Saturday nights, traveling to Kirkland, Washington, where they will play Northwest University. The Lions first home contest is scheduled for Tuesday night, March 9, against the University of Puget Sound. At present, there are 22 games still remaining on Multnomah's covid-delayed current season.    

*****  Richardson has already scored a milestone 1,000 + points in his brief career, with two full years of eligibility remaining after this season. It seems reasonable to assume Richardson could amass a lofty total well over 3,000 points by the time his career is finished.  In his last 7 games, the emerging backcourt star has averaged 32.43 ppg.

     

Pac-12 Men's and Women's Basketball Power Rankings - March 2, 2021

Here's this week's Pac-12 basketball power rankings...a little late.

Women

1) Stanford

2) UCLA

3) Oregon State

4) Oregon

5) Colorado

6) Washington State

7) Arizona State

8) Arizona

9) USC

10) Utah

11) Washington

12) California

Men

1) Colorado

2) Oregon

3) UCLA

4) USC

5) Arizona

6) Oregon State

7) Stanford

8) Washington State

9) Arizona State

10) Utah

11) California

12) Washington

Coming soon...Pac-12 baseball and softball power rankings. Stay tuned!

Pac-12 Men's and Women's Basketball Power Rankings - February 23, 2021

Here's my Pac-12 Men's and Women's Basketball Power Rankings for this week. Mine. Maybe yours, too. (Note: I did NOT copy the power rankings of Andy Katz.)

Women

1) Stanford

2) UCLA

3) Arizona

4) Oregon

5) Oregon State

6) Colorado

7) Washington State

8) USC

9) Utah

10) Washington

11) California

12) Arizona State

Men

1) USC

2) UCLA

3) Oregon

4) Colorado

5) Stanford

6) Arizona

7) Oregon State

8) Washington State

9) Arizona State

10) Utah

11) Washington

12) California

Happy debating, friends.

Eastern Oregon Opens Covid-Delayed Season With 96-80 win, Richardson with 31 in defeat.

 

By Harry Cummins

     The Eastern Oregon Mountaineers opened their covid-delayed 2020-21 basketball season by defeating the Multnomah University Lions 96-80 today in a contest played at a neutral site in Connell,Washington.

     EOU was led by a quartet of players and rode a torrid 63% field goal shooting percentage in the second half to hold off the Lions (0-5).

     For EOU, freshman Paul Pennington had 19 points and 11 assists, while Zane Wright scored a team-high  20 points and Brandon Porter added 16 pts.  Justin Jeske recorded a double-double game with 14 points and 13 rebounds in a strong effort for the winners.

     In defeat, the Cascade Collegiate Conference's leading scorer, Zach Richardson, led all scorers in the game with a dazzling 31 point output, including 7 made 3's.  Back to back 3's by Richardson in a 28 second span of the second half cut the EOU lead to 83-76, but the Lions never got closer.   Richardson's 31 points and 7 3-pointers represented individual high-water marks this season in the CCC.

     Forrest Smith registered 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Lions in the loss.

Pac-12 Men's and Women's Basketball Power Rankings - February 16, 2021

Welp...the time is now for this week's Pac-12 Men's and Women's Basketball Power Rankings. Here it is.

Men

1) USC

2) UCLA

3) Colorado

4) Oregon

5) Stanford

6) Arizona

7) Utah

8) Arizona State

9) Oregon State

10) Washington State

11) California

12) Washington

Women

1) Stanford

2) UCLA

3) Arizona

4) Oregon

5) USC

6) Washington State

7) Arizona State

8) Colorado

9) Oregon State

10) Utah

11) Washington

12) California

You win some. You lose some. Just try not to lose too much, especially now.

Bill Crawford is a long time Eugene radio personality and is the play-by-play voice of Eugene Challengers American Legion baseball plus he covers high school sports for Wynne Broadcasting in Klamath Falls. You can find him on most social media platforms.

#4 Lewis Clark State Routs Rusty Multnomah 124-75

 By Harry Cummins

     Playing their first game in nearly a year, the Multnomah Lions dropped a 124-75 decision to the #4 ranked Lewis Clark State Warriors Wed night in a non-conference contest in Lewiston, Idaho.

     The Warriors (13-1) placed seven men in double figures, led by freshman Oreon Courtney with 20 points on 9 for 11 shooting. Trystan Bradley and Damek Mitchell added 19 apiece for the victors.  Zach Richardson led all scorers in the game with 21 points for Multnomah.  The 3rd year guard hit 5 3's on the night.  Freshman Andrew Classen added 18 for the Lions.

     The same two teams play again tomorrow night, before Lewis Clark State begins a best of 3 playoff vs College of Idaho on Feb 18 to determine the Cascade Collegiate Conference's automatic berth in the NAIA national tournament.

     Multnomah last played a game on Feb 22, 2020 before being shut down this entire 2020-21 season by Covid-19 restrictions imposed by the state of  Oregon.  The Lions are scheduled to play 3 more games this week in Idaho and still hope to start a revised conference season sometime in March.

     Leading 18-13 in the first half, the Warriors broke open the game with a 21-0 run to lead 39-13. They enjoyed a 69-34 lead at the half after shooting 71% from the field.

Pac-12 Men's and Women's Basketball Power Rankings - February 9, 2021

From the better late than never department...here are this week's Pac-12 men's and women's basketball Power Rankings:

Women

1) Stanford

2) UCLA

3) Arizona

4) Oregon

5) USC

6) Washington State

7) Arizona State

8) Oregon State

9) Colorado

10) Utah

11) Washington

12) California

Men

1) USC

2) Colorado

3) UCLA

4) Oregon

5) Arizona

6) Stanford

7) Oregon State

8) Washington State

9) Utah

10) Arizona State

11) California

12) Washington

I always enjoy a healthy, friendly debate. Bring it on!

Bill Crawford is a long-time Eugene radio personality, play-by-play voice of Eugene Challengers American Legion baseball and for high school sports on Wynne Broadcasting in Klamath Falls (when there is high school sports these days). You can find Bill on most social media platforms.