LEWISTON, Idaho – The Eastern Oregon University men’s basketball used a 9-1 run over the final two minutes of the game to come away with a, 66-63, victory over Lewis-Clark State College on Friday night. Tony Eackles Jr. led the Mountaineers with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor.
The Mountaineers and Warriors were locked in a tight first half that neither team wanted to hold the lead. With the score tied at 7-7 the Mountaineers started to pull away and grew its lead to, 18-11, after a Craig Tucker three pointer.
However, the Warriors scored the next eight points to take a one point lead, 19-18 on a David Johnson jumper. EOU battled back and after a bucket by Kyllian Wood, Eastern Oregon took the lead, 20-19. EOU grew the lead to, 24-19, before Lewis-Clark State started to battle back.
The game remind close for the rest of the first half as the lead continued to change changes. With the score tied at, 31-31, Tony Eackles Jr. made an old fashion three point play to giving EOU a 34-31. EOU did not trail the rest of the first half and went into halftime with a 37-35.
EOU and Lewis-Clark State stayed close and with the game tied at 41-41, the Warriors scored the next five points to take an 46-41 lead over EOU. Lewis-Clark State continued to eight points, 51-43, after a three pointer by the Warriors E.J. Farris.
The Mountaineers continued to keep the game close and cut the lead down to one point, 54-53, after a Trevor Phillips field goal. The Warriors continued to hold off the Mountaineers and with just over two minutes remaining in the game the Warriors held a five point lead, 62-57.
Eastern Oregon picked up the defense for the rest of the game as they only allowed the Warriors to score one point the rest of the game. EOU closed out the game on a 9-1 run to claim a 66-63 victory over Lewis-Clark State.
EOU returns to court on Dec. 6 when they travel to The Evergreen State College to open conference play. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.