Oregon Tech "Miles Ahead"

As far as college athletics is concerned in Oregon, Oregon and Oregon St. get the most attention. After all, the Ducks are headed to this year's Rose Bowl, and Oregon Sate's Baseball program has won two national titles in recent years.

But probably the best and most consistent college athletic program in the state of Oregon has to be the Oregon Tech Men's Basketball Program. The Hustlin Owls, as they are known, have won two NAIA Div. ll National Title in 2004 and 2008. A year ago, OIT made it to the NAIA Div. ll National Tournament for the 11th time in school history. They won their first round game against Iowa Wesleyan before losing to Belleview (NE) in the "Sweet 16". OIT finished the year at 29-6.

Head Coach Danny Miles has won 364 games while at OIT, and is ranked sixth in all-purpose wins (NCAA/NAIA) with 876 wins, which ties him with the late Adolph Rupp of Kentucky. Miles will move a head of Rupp with a win over Corban College on Dec. 30.
Miles ranks second in all time wins in the NAIA and is number one in NAIA Div. ll. He trails Harry Slatham of McKendree College (Ill.), who leads all of college basketball (NCAA and NAIA) with most wins at 995.
Back in 1995, when Miles won his 5ooth game, the President of OIT, Lawrence J. Wolf, proclaimed the basketball court had a new name, Danny Miles Court. Another footnote, Oregon Tech has the most NAIA Div. ll National Tournament wins of any school with 26.

Currently, the Hustilin Owls are off to another great start. They are 11-3 and are ranked #5 in the NAIA Div. ll Top 25 and are led by 6'4 Sr. Guard Justin Parnell. Parnell averaged 15.2 points per game, 4.4 RPG and 4.3 APG a year ago, earning him First Team All-Conference honors. He helped lead the Hustlin Owls to the Sweet 16 of the NAIA Div. ll National Tournament in 2009, and was named NAIA Div. ll All-America Honorable Mention. This year4 so far, Parnell is averaging 17.5 PPG, including a season high 32 points in a 97-71 win over Willamette back on 11/27. Parnell is also averaging 4.6 APG. Oregon Tech is primed and ready to once again win the Cascade Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship and take their 12th trip to the NAIA Div. ll "Big Dance". There is no doubt the Oregon Tech Men's Basketball is the most successful college basketball program in the state of Oregon.