KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The 23rd-ranked Hope International men's basketball team earned a hard fought road victory on Friday, defeating No. 19 Oregon Tech 85-79 on Danny Miles Court.

The Royals (4-0) won in one of the toughest places to play in the country, and needed to persevere through a host of travel issues just to reach their destination on the southern tip of Oregon. 

HIU, initially slated to arrive in Oregon at 2:00 a.m. on Friday, ended up sleeping overnight at LAX Airport. Following stops in Phoenix, then Portland, the Royals contingent arrived in Medford and drove to Klamath Falls, arriving at 4:00 p.m.

Tip time was moved back a half hour to 8:00 p.m. to account for HIU's late arrival.

Once the game began, HIU faced a raucous crowd, which has helped the Owls generate a 799-182 home record since 1964, winning over 81 percent of their home games.

Both teams fought through seven early lead changes before HIU took command in the first half.

Trailing 22-21, the Royals embarked on a 20-5 run, fueled by 10 points from Nick Hopkins and five more from Colin Weems over a five and a half minute stretch. The Owls cut their deficit to single digits, 43-34, on a tip-in by Jackson Cooper.

Ultimately, Oregon Tech (2-2) closed the half on a 15-4 burst as HIU went into intermission with a 45-42 lead.

The Royals opened the second half hitting seven of their first eight shots and maintained a 63-58 lead following a Cade Potter layup at the 10:06 mark.

Conversely, Oregon Tech made just 3 of its first 13 shots to begin the second stanza, yet trimmed its deficit to 63-60, aided by five straight points from Dakota Reber.

Cooper's tip-in with 8:29 remaining whittled HIU's lead to 64-63, but Addy G'Bye knocked down a huge three-pointer on the following possession to bring the visitors back up by four.

Kaden Groenig's jumper brought OIT within 68-67 at the 6:21 mark, but Hopkins, who scored a game-high 26 points, got inside for the bucket and completed the "and-one" for a 71-67 lead.

The Owls refused to go away though and eventually tied the score at 76-76 on Jared Sucher's triple with 2:16 on the clock. They took a 79-77 lead on Reber's traditional three-point play with 1:30 remaining.

G'Bye drew a foul and sank both free throws to tie the score at 79-79. The Royals got a huge stop on defense, and Jorren Edmonds found Aman Haynes for a layup off a perfect lob pass.

Leading 81-79, the Royals forced a Groenig three-point miss, and Haynes converted another layup to put them up by four with 20 ticks left.

Edmonds made a pair of free throws for the final points of the evening.

Hopkins scored 18 of his 26 points in the first half on 8 of 11 shooting. He finished 9 of 14 for the game, adding three rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot. G'Bye finished with 16 points on four three-pointers.

Edmonds made 5 of 9 floor shots for 12 points, chipping in a game-high tying five assists. Haynes notched 10 points on 5 of 6 shooting off the bench.

The Royals owned a 33-30 edge in rebounding with eight players grabbing at least three caroms.

HIU shot 55.6 (30 of 54) percent from the floor, including 12 of 20 in the second half. The Royals also were an exceptional 66.7 (8 of 12) percent from beyond the three-point line. Conversely, OIT shot just 22.2 (6 of 27) percent from distance.

Cooper led all players with 29 points on 13 of 18 shooting. Sucher added 18 points, hitting 6 of 9 floor shots, including 4 of 6 from three-point territory.

HIU continues action in the Lithia - Oregon Tech Classic on Saturday, facing Southern Oregon for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.