WALLA WALLA, Wash. — The Blue Mountain men’s basketball team overcame flat starts in both halves to defeat Columbia Basin 98-89 in overtime on Friday at the Walla Walla Tournament.

Justin Rivas came up with a couple big baskets and steal to start the overtime period, then found Jordan Christensen on the perimeter for the final nail in the coffin as BMCC outscored CBC 11-2 in the extra frame.

Christensen scored 27 points to lead Blue Mountain (2-3), and was 7-for-10 from three-point range. His contributions helped BMCC’s bench account for 44 points in the game.

“It was a great team win,” said BMCC coach Adam Ellis. “Our starting guys had trouble getting things going and our bench really stepped up.

“Jordan Christensen is a kid that probably should be starting for us. He struggled shooting the first part of the year and really came on last game (with 17 points). Once he gets it going it’s hard to get him stopped. He doesn’t need much space and he’s got a quick release.”

Rivas finished with 12 points, five assists and four steals.

Max Mueller had a double-double for BMCC with 17 points and 13 rebounds, and Jarrell Bell added 20 points and three steals.

Columbia Basin (1-6) tied the game at 87-all with two seconds left in regulation when it converted on the back end of a double bonus trip to the free throw line.

The Hawks were led by guard Brandon Oswalt with 27 points, but had the wind sucked from its sails early in overtime when post Michael Joseph was called for charging and fouled out.

“That kind of deflated them a little bit,” Ellis said. “Defensively we were very solid and forced a lot of turnovers in overtime.”

Joseph’s final line included 19 points and nine rebounds.

Blue Mountain only committed 13 turnovers in the game, with just six in the second half and overtime combined. CBC finished with 17.

Columbia Basin shot 45.7 percent from the field to BMCC’s 36.1, and outrebounded the T-Wolves 60-51.

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BLUE MOUNTAIN 98, COLUMBIA BASIN 89, OT

BMCC (2-3) 40 47 11 — 98

CBC (1-6) 42 45 2 — 89

BLUE MOUNTAIN — Jordan Christensen 27, J. Bell 20, M. Mueller 17, J. Rivas 12, J. Schultz 11, J. Wells 6, L. Meyers 5, N. Williams, C. McElroy. (34-88)

COLUMBIA BASIN — Brandon Oswalt 27, M. Joseph 18, A. Wren 11, J. Reed 11, J. Douglas 11, N. Jopling 4, J. Weems 4, C. Chase 3, J. Carpenter, A. Miller, M. Hirai. (33-73)

3-point field goals — BMCC 10-23; CBC 7-17. Free throws — BMCC 19-31; CBC 16-32. Fouls — BMCC 28; CBC 29. Fouled out — Shultz (BMCC); Wren, Joseph (CBC).