Big Sky title within reach as Eagles close regular season at home

CHENEY — The Big Sky Conference season ends the way it began. 

Picked to win the Big Sky Conference and in a great position to accomplish that task, the Eastern Washington University men’s basketball team closes out the regular season by playing Idaho State tonight (Thursday, March 5) and Weber State on Saturday, March 7 at Reese Court. 

Both are rematches of games played back in December to open the league schedule, and now EWU finds itself 14-4 in the league and tied with Montana with two league games to play for each team. Tipoff against the Bengals is 6:05 p.m. on Thursday and the Senior Day game versus Weber State begins at 2:05 p.m. and will be televised by Eleven Sports.  

More than two months ago, Eastern opened the league season with a 79-77 road win over Weber State on Dec. 28, but then the Eagles were knocked off by Idaho State by a 75-69 score two nights later. The Bengals topped Wildcats 78-70 March 2, and ISU improved to 4-14 record in league, 7-20 overall. Weber State plays at Idaho before coming to Cheney, is 7-11 in the league and 11-18 overall. 

“We have to go 1-0 on Thursday, and that’s all we’ll worry about,” Eastern head coach Shantay Legans said. “We can’t worry about any game past that or what other teams do. We’ll handle our own business and do what we are supposed to do. We have to come prepared because anybody can beat you.” 

Eastern is gunning for its fourth Big Sky regular season title in school history (2000, 2004, 2015), and has won two Big Sky Tournament titles (2004 and 2015) to advance to the NCAA Tournament.