Junior Jordan Call Led NU with 21 points including 13-13 from the FT line.
EWU Holds on to Defeat Northwest U.
CHENEY, Wash. - The NU Eagles fell behind early, but battled back to get into the game before dropping a 96-87 contest to the NCAA Division 1 Eastern Washington Eagles tonight on Reese Court. The game was an exhibition for NU and will not count against their season record.
EWU jumped out to a 20-3 lead early in the first half aided by five 3-pointers, two by Jeffrey Forbes and three by Cliff Colimon. But NU would regain their composure and cut the EWU lead to 11, 23-12 on a three point play by Stedman Richardson who would score the layup and convert the free throw at the 12:41mark. Two more EWU 3-pointers would push their lead back up to 17 points (29-12) capped off by a trey by Jeffrey Forbes at the 11:29 mark. The EWU Eagles were shooting 72% from the 3-point line early in the first half. Eastern would continue with the hot hand and take a 49-29 lead at halftime.
EWU would maintain an 18-20 point for the first portion of the second half, but Tyson Christie’s 3-pointer with 10:04 left in the game would pull Northwest to within 12 points, 67-55. Eastern would build the lead back up to 81-65 with 4:39 left in the contest, but NU would battle back again and go on a 6-2 run to make it 82-71 with 3:50 to go. The game would turn into a free throw shooting contest at the end of the game and two free throws by NU's Jason Waltman and two more by the Eagles' Jordan call would pull the Eagles to within 7 points, 89-82, with 52 ticks left on the clock. EWU's Cliff Ederaine would foul NU's Stedman Richardson on the 3-point attempt and Richardson would calmly step to the line and sink all three shot to make it 90-85 with 37 seconds to go. Eastern's Cliff Coliman would miss a second free throw and NU's Jason Waltman would be fouled on the rebound and he would sink two free throws to make it a 4 point game with 35 seconds remaining. NU's Rich Skillman would miss a 3-pointer with 24 seconds to go and Eastern Washington would go on to make 3 of 4 free throws to clinch the victory.
Five NU Eagles (3-1) scored in double figures tonight, led by Jordan Call's 21 points including a perfect 13 for 13 from the free throw line. Tyson Christie scored 16 points before fouling as he was a perfect 4-4 from the 3-point line. Greg George, Stedman Richardson and Jason Waltman all score 12 points for the Eagles. NU shot a cool 17% from the 3-point arc in the first half but heated up to shoot 47% from beyond the line in the second half.
EWU (1-2) was led by Cliff Coliman's 21 points including going 6 for 9 from the 3-point line. Laron Griffin scored a double-double with 19 points and 16 rebounds and Tremayne Johnson added another 19 points and 9 boards for the Eagles who shot 47% from 2-point range and 50% from beyond the 3-point arc.
"Outside of our slow start, I felt it was a positive night for out team," commented Coach John Van Dyke after the game. "It was a confidence building game for us and a good team effort which we can build upon."
The Eagles now head to Newberg, Ore. for a non-conference match up with George Fox on Saturday night.