Eastern extends winning streak to six games with road win
CHENEY, Wash. — Eastern Washington University men’s basketball team beat red-hot Northern Arizona 77-66 Monday (Feb. 3) in Flagstaff, Ariz., to extend EWU’s winning streak to six games and end NAU’s at five.
With Eastern sinking 14 3-pointers – one from its high this season — the win helped Eastern maintain first place in the Big Sky men’s basketball standings. In the midst of a stretch of three road games in six nights, the Eagles head to Montana for a rematch on Feb. 6 of a 90-63 loss earlier this season in Cheney.
Perry finished with a season-high 15 points for the Eagles – all in the second half and three from his career high of 18.
“He’s played in a lot of games and made a lot of big shots,” said Eastern head coach Shantay Legans. “When you have guys like him doing that it makes the game that much easier. The team trusts each other and they are going to pass the ball to the player who has the best shot. Jack’s night was tonight to hit some big shots.”
Junior Jacob Davison had 17 points, and senior Mason Peatling had his fourth double-double in the last five games with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Sophomore Kim Aiken Jr. also had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Meadows came off the bench to score five first-half points in four minutes of playing time.
“Other players hit big shots, and Mason and Kim were doing their thing on the glass,” added Legans. “And Mike Meadows came in quietly at the end of that first half, but he really gave us a spark. He gave us toughness, made shots and defended really well. That’s how you earn playing time. You always have to be working and ready to go – and he was ready. Our team just stepped up tonight and played a great game.”
Eastern’s 14 3-pointers equaled its second-most behind the 15 they hit at High Point on Nov. 23. Eastern also had 14 versus Portland Bible College on Nov. 5. The Eagles finished at 14-of-37 in the game after an 8-of-18 performance in the second half. Eastern led by four after the first 20 minutes — its first halftime lead in the last four games – and led by as many as 15 in the second half.
Eastern held the Lumberjacks to 41 percent shooting from the field, including only 6-of-17 from the 3-point stripe. Eastern also had a 38-34 rebounding edge and is now 8-0 when it has an advantage on the boards. Eastern had 12 offensive rebounds and for the second-straight game had 15 second-chance points.
The Eagles trailed must of the first half before using a 12-1 run to open a 29-23 lead with 3:57 to play. Five different players scored in the run, including 3-pointers by Davison and freshman redshirt Casson Rouse. The Eagles held the Lumberjacks without a field goal for 5:15.
Meadows, who had played just nine minutes in three league games entering the NAU game, hit a 3-pointer and another jumper in the last three minutes to give EWU its largest lead of the half at nine. Eastern led 34-30 at halftime.
Perry, who was 0-of-4 in the first half from the 3-point line, got hot early in the second half, and his trey at the 16:50 mark gave EWU its biggest lead of the night at 13 points. He, Rouse and Davison then hit triples to give EWU its biggest lead of the half at 59-44 with 10:16 to play.
Eastern led by no less than eight the rest of the way.
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