WINCHESTER – The No. 8 ranked Umpqua men suffered a 97-90 loss to Linn-Benton Wednesday night after losing leading-scorer Grant Ellison to a left ankle injury early in the first half.
Ellison was injured on a drive to the hoop less than three minutes into the game. He jumped up and made a late pass, but as he came down he landed awkwardly on his ankle and crumpled to the floor. He tried standing up, but fell back to the floor again. He was helped to the sideline and did not return to the game.
Ellison, who averages a team-high 21 points per game, finished with just two. The Riverhawks still managed to build a one-point lead at the halftime break, but Linn-Benton pulled away in the second half for the upset. The Road Runners snapped a two-game losing streak with the victory.
Darrin Gethers scored 21 to lead Umpqua and Jacob Danhoff added 20. Kendrick Abraham scored 25 points to lead Linn-Benton.
Umpqua still remains in first place in the South Region, but their lead over second place has dwindled down to just one game.
Up next the UCC men host the Mt. Hood Scots on Saturday at 4 p.m.
