LEWISTON, Idaho – Senior guard Derek White scored nine of his team-high 16 points down the stretch, including five on key back-to-back plays, to help the 18^th-ranked Lewis-Clark State College men's basketball team defeat Montana Tech 80-75 in Frontier Conference action at the LCSC Activity Center on Thursday night.
 
With the Warriors trailing 68-67 with 3:07 remaining, White scored on a drive to the bucket and sparked a 10-0 run. White scored seven points in the run to go along with a 3-pointer by David Shedrick to help LCSC improve to 17-6 overall and 6-5 in conference play.
 
With LCSC leading 72-68, White made a huge play. Montana Tech post Taylor England, who enjoyed success in the low post most of the evening, had the ball down low again and was posting up looking to score to his right.  White came around from the left side, stole the ball from England and raced down court for a layin.
 
After an Oredigger miss, White then hit a step-back 3-point shot to beat the shot clock and give L-C a comfortable 77-68 lead with 53 seconds remaining. Montana Tech couldn't get closer than four the rest of the way.
 
"Derrick made some big-time plays," LCSC coach Austin Johnson said. "He's playing like a guy who wants to extend his season."
 
White scored nine points in the final four minutes of the game and finished 7-of-7 from the field to go along with three rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.
 
"Hyperbole and clichés and everything, but Derrick White is one of the most successful players to ever play at LC State in the history of the program. "Obviously depending on how we do (this season), he will be among the top 3-4 in all-time wins. That's not an accident. He's a special player that is hard to explain because he doesn't put up a bazillion points, but he showed tonight he's capable. And he's so great defensively."
 
The Warriors led for most of the ballgame, including by as much as 10 in the first half, but the Orediggers, 15-9 overall and 5-7 in league, rallied to grab a 35-34 halftime advantage.
 
In the second half, LCSC went on an 8-0 run early to retake the lead. Troy Owens Jr., and England kept Tech close as they combined for 32 second-half points. Owens Jr. was particularly hot and finished with a game-high 31 points, including 22 in the second half.
 
"We found a way to win, which is what you have to do if you want to be a great team and want to be playing at the end of the season," Johnson said. "We came out a half step slow and I'm surprised we only ended up with 21 turnovers because it felt like about 30. But a credit to our guys. Different guys made different plays."
 
LCSC had four players finish in double figures. Dana Abe added 14 points, while Cordel Hankerson and Josiah Westbrook had 10 each. Hankerson also had a team-high seven rebounds.
For the game, LCSC finished 32-of-62 from the field for 51.6 percent and 8-of-19 from the 3-point line for 42.1 percent. Montana Tech was 28-of-62 from the field for 45.2 percent and 7-of-16 from the 3-point line for 43.8 percent.
 
The Warriors will be back in action on Saturday when they play host to Montana Western at 4 p.m. at the Activity Center.