CALDWELL, Idaho – The Eastern Oregon University men’s basketball team used a 29-7 run to close out the game to defeat Walla Walla University, 76-67, Friday afternoon in the Golden Rule Shootout hosted by College of Idaho.
Trevor Phillips and Deonta Edwards led the Mountaineers with 13 points apiece. Kyllian Wood collected a game-high 13 rebounds for EOU.
After a slow start on the offensive end for both teams as there was only six combined points for the first three minutes of the contest. Craig Tucker drilled a three pointer to give EOU a 5-4 lead with, 16:20 to go in the first half.
After Tucker’s three, Walla Walla scored the next seven points to take an 11-5 lead. The Wolves and Mountaineers continued to battle and the game remained close for the rest of the first half. After a pair Tucker free throws, the Mountaineers held a 29-25 lead.
However, Walla Walla built a five point lead going into halftime as the Wolves scored the last nine points of the half. EOU shot 31 percent from the floor in the first half.
Walla Walla came out and started the second half by extending its lead over the Mountaineers and after the first two and half minutes of the second half, EOU found itself down, 40-34. The Wolves continued to extend its lead and after a three pointer by Tyreek Luckett, the Mountaineers found themselves down, 51-40.
EOU continued to battle and trimmed the lead down to eight points, 53-45. However, Walla Walla answered right back and build its lead back to 11 points after a pair of a free throws from Andrew Bailey.
With just under ten minutes to go in the game the Mountaineers found themselves down, 60-47. However, the Mountaineers started a 29-7 run started by a Kalvin Johanson jumper. EOU continued to battle back and after an Edwards layup, Eastern Oregon was done five points, 63-58.
Eastern Oregon continued to battle and after an old-fashion three point plays, the Mountaineers took its first lead of the second half, 65-63, and never looked back. EOU continued to extend its lead and came away with a, 76-67, victory over Walla Walla.
The Mountaineers return to action tomorrow in the Golden Rule Shootout when they play Westminster College at 5 p.m. MT.