EOU Men Will Also Host Opening Round

KIRKLAND, Wash.- Number ten Eastern Oregon (21-4, 14-3 Cascade Collegiate Conference) recovered from a 4 point halftime deficit to edge the Northwest University (12-14, 8-9 CCC) men, 86-80, and remain tied for the lead in the Cascade Conference. With the victory, the Mounties earned their 21st win of the season.

After the teams got off to a nervous start going 0 for 7 from the floor, Derek Miller put Northwest U. up with his jumper at the 18:23 mark. While EOU continued to miss the mark, NU would increase their lead to 6-0 on Nate Rheaume's jumper with 16:24 left in the half. NU would go on a 12-4 run to hold an 18-4 lead with 11:06 remaining. After an offensive rebound and tip in by freshman Greg George, the Eagles would lead 23-9.

But then the #10 Mounties would show their toughness going on a 7-0 run of their own as Neil Fryer's two free throws would help pull EOU to within 7 points at 23-16 with 6:40 left in the half. After being fouled on a 3-point attempt, NU's Pat Mattson made all three shots from the charity stripe to give NU a 29-21 advantage with 4:27 to go until halftime.

Paul Carollo's jumper with 2:29 left would get the Mounties within one point, 31-30 and EOU would take their first lead of the game at the 1:45 mark with Jeremy Templeton's 3-pointer. NU wouldn't be denied and would go on a 10-5 run to end the half up, 42-38.

EOU would start the second half off fast with a 6-0 run as they regained the lead, 44-42, but a 3-pointer from NU's Eddie Coulson would put the Eagles back in front, 45-44 with 19:01 left in the game. A 3-pointer by senior Pat Mattson would give NU a 57-50 lead at the 15:02 mark for over 8 minutes until Paul Carollo's free throw knotted the score at 66 with 6:53 left in the game.

The game would see 4 more ties but with 2:26 remaining, and the score tied at 76, a turnover by the Eagles Chase Van Cleave would lead to a 3-pointer by Mark Carollo which would put EOU in the lead for good at 79-76. Two free throws by EOU's Steve Sawyer with 23 seconds remaining would clinch the victory for the Mounties giving them an 83-76 lead.

EOU had four players in double figures on the night led by Mark Carollo's 19 points. Eastern Oregon shot 44 percent from inside the arc and 45 percent from 3-point range on the night. Eastern out rebounded NU 39-35 including 16 offensive boards. The Eagles also had four players in double figures led by Derek Miller's 21 points and 6 rebounds

The victory sets-up a huge conference game Saturday night in Olympia, Wash. at The Evergreen State College (18-5, 13-4 CCC). TESC enters the game ranked number 23 and after defeating The College of Idaho 79-68 Friday night. On Jan. 11 in La Grande, the Geoducks lost a late lead and EOU rallied to a 94-93 victory.