EWU's 2003-04 team to be honored

CHENEY - The Eastern Washington team that launched the school's basketball program into a level of success that it maintains to this day will be honored Saturday, March 2 vs. Montana State.

Many members of the 2003-04 Eagles squad that earned the program's first tournament bid will be on hand to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their achievement.

The team started the season 3-9 but ended up as the Big Sky regular season champions and hosts of the conference tournament at Reese Court.

Coached by Ray Giacoletti, they rolled past Weber State and Northern Arizona for the Big Sky Championship before falling to Oklahoma State 75-56 at the NCAA Tournament in a game played at Kansas City.

Upwards of a dozen members of that team are scheduled to be on hand, including that season's Big Sky MVP, Alvin Snow as well as Marc Axton, Paul Butorac, Brandon Merritt, Gregg Smith and Rachi Wortham, among others.

Head coach Ray Giacoletti, who in the previous season helped guide the Eagles into their first post-season appearance with a National Invitational berth, is also planning to be on hand.

Since that season EWU basketball has twice more qualified for the NCAA Tournament (2015 and 2021) and the NIT in 2023. They have also played in a variety of other lower-tier post-season tournaments.

And over the past 10 seasons, EWU has the best record in Big Sky Conference basketball play. They are poised to capture a second consecutive league title with a two-game lead with three to play.