COLLEGE PLACE, Wash. – The No. 10 Eastern Oregon University men’s basketball team opened the 2011-12 regular season with a 97-51 win at Walla Walla University Saturday.
Eastern’s head coach Isaac Williams became the fastest to 50 wins in EOU men’s basketball history. Williams is only in his third season at the helm, but has amassed a 50-16 record.
Cody Thurmond scored a career-high 20 points to lead the Mountaineers (1-0). The junior also finished with a game-high six assists. Thurmond shot 6 of 10 from the field, including 2 of 4 from behind the perimeter.
Four other EOU players finished in double figures led by Trent Roos’ 19 points. Travares Peterson added 14 points, Ervin Felder had 13 and Jamar Johnson scored 12. Johnson and Anthony Brown each had seven rebounds.
Eastern shot 48 percent from the field. After shooting 36 percent in the first half, the Mountaineers bounced back with a 59 percent second half. EOU finished 34 percent from behind the arc, making 11 of its 32 three-point attempts.
Clark Woodworth and Tanner Woody each led the Wolves (0-1) with eight points. Jordan Stimmel had a team-high four rebounds.
WWU did finish 41 percent from the field, making 20 its 48 shots. Walla Walla made four of its nine three-point attempts in the first half, but went 0 for 8 in the second half.
The Mountaineers outrebounded Walla Walla, 53-21. EOU also had a 13 to six assist advantage, and committed 11 turnovers to the Wolves 23. Eastern Oregon forced 12 steals to Walla Walla’s five.
EOU won for the 25th time in the 27th meeting between the schools all-time. Eastern is now 6-0 against the Wolves under Williams. Eastern Oregon has won seven straight regular season openers dating back to a 95-84 loss to Montana Western in 2004.
The Mountaineers welcome Carroll College to Quinn Coliseum Friday for the second game of the Aramark Quinn Classic. Walla Walla plays The College of Idaho in Game 1 of the two-day classic.