LA GRANDE, Ore. – In their second meeting of the weekend the EOU men’s basketball took on the Simpson Red Hawks in Quinn Coliseum on Sunday afternoon.
Looking for a fifth win in a row, the Mountaineer offense once again got things going early, including a 10-0 run in the first three minutes.
In the first 10 minutes of the first stanza, EOU (5-1) had jumped out to a 28-10 lead with senior guard Kentrell Washington leading the way for EOU with 12 points, three rebounds and two assists.
The Red Hawks would cut the Mountie lead to 12, 30-18 with seven minutes in the first but the EOU offense would not be held quiet for long, leaping back onto a 9-2 run with four minutes until the half and the Blue and Gold up 39-20.
By halftime, Simpson (1-7) found themselves down 52-29. EOU freshman guard Max McCullough had netted 16 points, six of which came off back-to-back threes, five assists, a rebound and a steal. Senior wing Travis Meeker shot five of six for 12 points, four boards and two assists. Meanwhile, Washington had 14 points, four rebounds and two assists.
The first three minutes of the second was all Simpson, as the Red Hawks started the half on a 9-0 run. That was until junior guard Austin Strock threw down a slam off an assist from McCullough. A layup from senior forward Bryan McGriff at the 15:36 mark helped put EOU on a 9-2 run, rebuilding their lead to 20, 61-41.
With 10 minutes remaining in the game EOU continued to protect its lead, this time with McGriff hitting a pair of free throws increase the lead to 21 points, 68-47.
Simpson cut the EOU lead down to 14, 79-65 with two and a half minutes remaining and then down to 10 with a minute remaining. However, the deficit was too much for the Red Hawks who fell 83-73.
Washington led the way for EOU with 21 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Not far behind was McCullough who scored 19 points, three rebounds and five assists. Rounding out the list of top scorers was Meeker who netted 16 points including shooting 2-4 from behind the arc while also nabbing five boards and two assists.
BY THE NUMBERS
56 – Points scored between Washington, McCullough and Meeker
5 – Game win streak for EOU
101 – Career wins at EOU for head coach Isaac Williams
UP NEXT
EOU travels to Salt Lake City, Utah on Friday to take part in the 2016 Griffin Classic to take on Westminster College. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. MT.