KIRKLAND, Wash. - A quick start by Eastern Oregon led convincing 83-59 Cascade Conference victory over Northwest U. tonight in the Pavilion. With both teams coming off  tough conference defeats, the Mountaineers got back on track with the victory.

A 4-2 lead in the first half would build to a 25-6 EOU lead before NU's Greg George would put an end to the Eagles' scoring drought at the 6:53 mark of the half. With Eastern Oregon leading 25-8, an 11-1 run by the Mounties would increase their lead to 36-9 capped off by a Jordan Gregg tip in off a Dan Stafford miss with 2:13 to go until halftime. NU's Jason Waltman would close the gap to 36-11 with his jumper at the 1:09 mark but EOU would answer on Dan Stafford's lay up to put Eastern Oregon up 38-11 with 9 seconds left in the period. Northwest U. would manage only 15% shooting going 5 for 33 from the floor and 0-13 from the 3-point line while EOU shot 48% from the 2-point line (15-31) and 28% from the 3-point line.

The second half would see Northwest out score Eastern Oregon 48-45, but the 27 point halftime deficit was too much to overcome as the Eagles dropped their third straight conference game as their record fell to 10-8 over all and 4-5 in league play. NU shot a more respectable 48% in field goal attempts and 72.7% (8 for 11) from the 3-point line. EOU continued their hot shooting in the second half as they made 50% of their FG attempts (14-28) and 60% of their 3-point shots (3-5).

Junior Blake Solomon (Kent, Wash.) led NU (10-8, 4-5 CCC) with 17 points while freshman Jason Waltman (Monroe, Wash.) added 10 points and 5 rebounds for the Eagles. Greg Peters (Soph., Belmont, St. Vincent) grabbed 10 rebounds for Northwest U.

Eastern Oregon (9-5, 3-4 CCC) had four players finish in double figures: Paul Carollo and Neil Fryer ended with 15 points each while Dan Stafford and Jordan Gregg each add 10 points a piece for the Mounties. EOU out rebounded the Eagles 44-37.

Northwest U. will host Northwest Christian University on Saturday, January 17 at 7:30 p.m. EOU returns home to LaGrande to host Cascade College tomorrow night in a game re-scheduled from December.