PORTLAND - Despite a dominant offensive performance from Tristan Pratt, Clark College came up just short Wednesday night, falling 74-69 to Mt. Hood in a tightly contested NWAC match up.
Pratt delivered one of his strongest outings of the season, pouring in a game-high 26 points on 12-of-22 shooting while adding six rebounds in 40 minutes of action. The sophomore forward established himself early in the paint and consistently found ways to score through contact, keeping the Penguins within striking distance throughout the night.
Clark (25-61 overall shooting, 41 percent) battled back multiple times after Mt. Hood built small leads, but timely shooting from the Saints proved to be the difference.
Ari Richardson added 16 points for the Penguins, knocking down three 3-pointers and going a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line. He also dished out four assists and grabbed five rebounds in a steady all-around performance. Micah Gentry chipped in 10 points, connecting on two 3-pointers and going 4-for-4 at the stripe.
Noah Tostovrsnik provided an efficient inside presence, finishing with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting while pulling down a team-high eight rebounds. He also added three steals and a block on the defensive end.
Clark showed toughness at the free throw line, converting 12-of-13 attempts (92.3 percent), which helped keep the game close late. The Penguins also forced seven steals and moved the ball well at times, finishing with 13 assists.
Mt. Hood shot 47.3 percent from the field and was paced by Oliha Loyuk's 16 points and RJ Alexander's 14 off the bench. Carson Reilley and Leyton Nield each added 13 points for the Saints, who held a 36-30 rebounding edge.
Clark trailed by multiple possessions in the final minutes but continued to fight behind Pratt's interior scoring and Richardson's perimeter shooting. However, the Saints were able to convert at the free throw line down the stretch to seal the five-point victory.
The Penguins will look to regroup and build off Pratt's strong performance as they prepare for their next conference match up.
---
For the latest news and results, follow Clark Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or sign up for our e-newsletter to stay up to date with the latest happenings!
