BOX SCORE
CALDWELL, Idaho – The No. 10 Eastern Oregon University men’s basketball team knocked off Portland Bible College Saturday, 97-55.
The Mountaineers (5-0) begin the season by winning their first five games for the third time since 2000. EOU had its best start in 2006-07, when it went 7-0 to open the season.
Anthony Brown led Eastern for the second straight night with 14 points. The junior finished 6 for 8 from the field. Travares Peterson, Trent Roos and Ervin Felder each had 12 points. Jamar Johnson and JaMier Johnson each scored 11 points, and Jeff Ranstrom added 10 points.
Ranstrom finished with his fourth career double-double. The senior also finished with a game-high 11 rebounds. He shot 4 of 7 from the field. Roos had a game-high four assists. Felder recorded three blocks.
In the third game of the Wendy’s Classic hosted by The College of Idaho, the Mountaineers led just 27-22 with five minutes remaining in the opening half, but extended the lead to 12 at the break. EOU opened the second stanza on a 12-2 run in the first three minutes to break the game wide open.
Eastern dominated the boards. EOU had a 60-18 point advantage in the paint, 27-5 in points off of turnovers, 25-4 in second chance points and 24-5 in fast break points. The Mountaineer bench outscored PBC’s 44-12.
EOU had a 59-19 rebound advantage. After shooting 41 percent from the field in the first half, Eastern was 57 percent in the second half. The Mountaineers made 5 of their 22 three-point attempts. Eastern Oregon shot 66 percent from the free-throw line.
Tim Mahan led the Wildcats (2-4) with a game-high 23 points. He shot 8 of 16 from the field, including 3 for 8 from behind the arc. Juston Coleman and Mahan each had four rebounds. Three Portland Bible players finished with a pair of assists.
The Mountaineers forced 16 PBC turnovers, while they committed 10. EOU held the Wildcats to 33 percent shooting from the field and 5 of 20 shooting from behind the perimeter.
It was the third meeting between the schools, and Eastern has now won all three meetings. Montana Tech defeated The College of Idaho in the final game of the Wendy’s Classic.
Eastern Oregon travels to Eugene, Ore., for its next game at New Hope Christian. The Mountaineers and NHCC meet for the first time Thursday. EOU will play the Deacons Thursday and Friday, with each tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. Live radio will be available on EOUSports.com and on KUBQ 98.7 FM beginning with pregame at 6:45 p.m.