The going got a little rugged for the Eastern Washington men’s basketball team in their journey to the southwest part of the Big Sky Conference.
And the stumble the Eagles took tumbled them out of the league lead with four games remaining.
Eastern got a clutch finish Feb. 19 in collecting 78-75 win over Southern Utah at Cedar City, winning the game with solid work at the free throw line.
Two days later, that same ability to finish was in the hands of Northern Arizona, which scored the final five points of the game — all from the free throw line — and won 73-69. The win allowed the Lumberjacks to climb within a game of the Eagles in what is now a four-team scramble for the regular season title and the host-role in the conference tournament.
That battle continues at Reese Court with a head-to-head matchup Saturday, Feb. 28 against conference co-leader Montana, who with a 12-3 record (16-10 overall), is tied with Sacramento State for the lead. Eastern sits a half game back at 11-3 (20-7). The Eagles open their final regular season home stand tonight (Feb. 26) versus Montana State (4-11, 7-20).
Eastern rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half in Flagstaff, but missed its final five shots. The Eagles could not overcome 38.3 percent shooting from the field.
Tyler Harvey led his team with 22 points, Bogdan Bliznyuk scored 16 points while Venky Jois, added 15.
Eastern earned its milestone 20th win — equaling its most in 32 seasons as a member of NCAA Division I — with the win over Southern Utah.
Jois, who missed EWU’s last game with a reoccurring ankle injury, finished with 22 points. Felix Von Hofe and Bliznyuk had 11 points. Drew Brandon added 10 points.
Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].
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