EUGENE, Ore. – The No. 10 Eastern Oregon University men’s basketball team eased past New Hope Christian College Thursday, 100-63.
The Mountaineers (6-0) met their average of 55 second-half points en route to their sixth straight victory to start the season. EOU entered the game as the top team in NAIA Div. 2 in offensive rebounds per game, total rebounds per game and total rebound margin.
Eastern averaged 20.8 offensive rebounds per game entering the contest, and finished with 27 Thursday. EOU averaged 50.2 total rebounds per game coming into the game, and finished with 53. The Mountaineers also surpassed their rebound margin of 22.2, with 29. Eastern Oregon outrebounded the Deacons, 55-26.
Travares Peterson led Eastern Oregon with 18 points. The senior finished 8 for 12 from the field. Trent Roos added 17 points. He was 6 of 10 from the field, including 3 for 6 from behind the perimeter. Cody Thurmond and Jeff Ranstrom each had 12 points. JaMier Morris added 11 points and John Buhler had 10.
Roos and Thurmond each had five assists to lead the Mountaineers. Morris finished with four assists. Ervin Felder had a game-high nine rebounds.
Eastern never trailed in the game and led by as many as 21 points in the first half. EOU finished 48 percent from the field, while New Hope Christian was 46 percent. The Mountaineers made 11 of their 26 three-point attempts, and NHCC hit 6 of its 21 three-pointers. Each team shot 12 free throws, Eastern Oregon made nine and the Deacons made seven.
New Hope Christian’s (0-5) Corey Gantt had a game-high 24 points. He shot 9 of 12 from the field, after starting 8 for 8. Quincy Alexander added 12 points. He also had five assists. Forest Stolk had a team-high six rebounds.
The Mountaineers play New Hope Christian Friday in Eugene. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Live video and audio will be available on EOUSports.com. Live radio is on KUBQ 98.7 FM with pregame beginning at 6:45 p.m.