ASHLAND — The 24th-ranked Southern Oregon University men’s basketball team canned 13 3-pointers and received another stellar performance from All-American Shea Washington in toppling fifth-ranked Albertson College 84-73 in a key Cascade Conference showdown at McNeal Pavilion Saturday night.

Brian McDermott’s 10th upset of a nationally rated foe as Raider head coach propelled SOU (10-7, 7-2) past the defending league champion Coyotes (13-5, 5-3) and into second place in the clogged conference regular-season title chase.

Washington’s inside play helped create wide-open perimeter looks for SOU’s guard line, and senior Brad Coen (18 points), junior Steve Farley (a season-high 15 points) and freshman Matt Cowell (11 points) cashed in by making nine of their collective 14 3-point attempts.

"We’ve had their number in the past because we just played their style well," McDermott said. "But tonight the biggest thing was we shot the heck out of the ball."

SOU shot a sizzling 57 percent in the second half (12 of 21), finished at 52 percent for the game (27 of 52). It held the potent long-range Coyote shooters to a 4-for-16 effort from beyond the arc and to 29 of 67 overall (43 percent).

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"We were making shots at the end of shot clocks and we also had kids coming off the bench and making shots, which helped," McDermott said.

Washington scored 13 of his 21 points in the opening half to help the Raiders manage a 42-38 halftime edge despite foul trouble encountered by SOU’s other primary inside players, and he finished with his 10th double-double of the season (21 points, 16 rebounds along with four blocks).

Albertson senior post Richard Fried finished with a game-high 24 points, including 20 in the opening 20 minutes. His putback — one of eight offensive rebounds — helped erase a 10-2 deficit and stake the Caldwell, Idaho school to its largest lead of the contest, 25-23, with 6:50 remaining until halftime.

Senior guard Joe Green provided the Coyotes with a brief 58-57 advantage following a lay-in midway through the second half, but two Coen 3-pointers fueled a game-clinching 11-0 Raider spurt over the next five minutes.

Albertson outrebounded the Raiders 36-31, but the Coyotes had only two second-chance baskets in the final five minutes.

Farley equaled last night’s season-best assist output with eight, and he amassed four steals.

Junior forward Dan McFaul scored 21 points for Albertson by converting 10 of 24 field goals.

The final outcome marked SOU’s third straight win over Albertson and seventh over the past 10 meetings with the perennial powerhouse. Last season, the Coyotes were ranked No. 3 when the Raiders proceeded to sweep the season series for the first time.

"They are one of the best teams in the country as far as I’m concerned," McDermott said. "And they are one of four teams that could win the conference. Fortunately, so are we."

SOU returns to action at home next Friday night against second-ranked and conference-leading Western Baptist College.

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