Eastern Washington releases 2014-15 men's basketball schedule

Eastern Washington University basketball has announced its 2014-15 schedule, Aug. 12, which includes five home games in their first seven outings, plus a trip to another one of the Mecca's of the sport.

"Every year we want to play an ambitious schedule that is fearless," EWU head coach Jim Hayford said. "We believe this schedule of games will have us ready for a very competitive Big Sky season."

The Eagles will open a home stand with a Friday, Nov. 14 Reese Court contest against Texas Southern University followed by games versus Utah Valley (Nov. 17) and Walla Walla (Nov. 19). They close the month of November with a Sunday, Nov. 30 game against Eastern Oregon University.

In all, the Eagles will play seven of 13 non-conference games at home.

Between the three home games that open the season comes a road trip that includes stops at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, Nov. 22 and concludes at the legendary Assembly Hall, home of the University of Indiana in Bloomington, Monday, Nov. 24.

December's schedule is dominated by six road games, including outings against Pac-12 Conference foes Washington (Dec. 14) and California (Dec. 22). The Eagles host Lewis-Clark State (Dec. 22) before opening Big Sky Conference play with a New Year's Day matchup versus defending champion Weber State.

The league schedule will include normal Thursday-Saturday games with the return of the University of Idaho to the 50-year-old conference.

The Eagles return highly-regarded juniors-to-be Tyler Harvey and Venky Jois. Harvey was a first team All-Big Sky selection and earned second team honors on the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District 6 team. Jois earned honorable mention accolades for the second-straight year, as well as being the 2012-13 Freshman of the Year in the league.