Five players scored in double figures as the Clark College men’s basketball team held off Tacoma 70-60 on Saturday at the O’Connell Center.
The victory moves the Penguins (16-7, 9-3) into second place in the NWAC West region, one game ahead of Lower Columbia (16-9, 8-4) and 2½ games behind leader Highline (19-6, 11-2).
Evan Garrison scored 11 points to go with 11 rebounds and four assists to lead a balanced attack for Clark. Darrius Mathis and Orlando Vance each had 12 points to lead Clark in scoring. Hayden Hall had 11 points, and Bryan Berg had 10.
Clark, which trailed 26-25 at halftime, dominated the rebounding 48-33 and held Tacoma (7-15, 4-7) to 32.8 percent shooting.
WOMEN: Clark 75, Tacoma 45 — Hot shooting carried the Penguins to victory.
Caylee Newsom scored 23 points and Alexa Orcutt 20 as the Penguins won their second consecutive game. Newsom hit 5 of 7 3-point shots in the first half to help Clark to a 46-20 halftime lead.
Their second consecutive win improved the Penguins to 7-5 in West Region play, 12-8 overall.
The Penguins shot 69 percent from the floor in the first half and finished the game shooting 58 percent. Newsom was 9 of 14 from the field and Orcutt 10 of 13. Clark had assists on 25 of its 32 field goals. Four players had at least five assists.
Tacoma (1-11, 3-17) shot 24 percent and turned over the ball 20 times.
Clark hosts winless Grays Harbor at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the O’Connell Center.
