Sports

Eastern runs past Idaho St.
Eagles shoot 60 percent in 100-73 victory over Bengals

Dave Trimmer
Staff writer

Any Big Sky basketball team that goes on the road and shoots 56 percent might not win, but it sure doesn't deserve to get embarrassed.

But that's what happened Thursday night when league-leading Eastern Washington shellacked Idaho State 100-73.

"I think we lulled them to sleep with our poor defensive play," chagrined ISU coach Doug Oliver said. "I think they were having so much fun offensively they let us score so that they could get the ball and go down and get some more shots."<P> The numbers back him up.

While the Bengals (8-12, 3-3) were shooting 56 percent, Eastern (9-10, 5-1) was shooting 60. The Eagles had a 31 assists -- two short of the school record -- on 39 baskets, a 35-19 rebounding edge (including 15 offensive boards), 10 steals and just 11 turnovers, delighting a crowd of 2,214 and the coach.

"To me it's the 11 turnovers," Eastern coach Ray Giacoletti said. "We've been trying to take better care of the basketball for a long time. We did a good job tonight. Our goal is 12 a game, six a half. We haven't out-rebounded a whole lot of people."

Alvin Snow led five Eagles in double figures with 20 points and had six assists and six rebounds.

Josh Barnard had five of his six 3-pointers in the first half for 18 points to go with five assists. Starting forward Matt Nelson, had all 11 of his points in the first half. Marc Axton, the other forward, had 12 points.

Also for the Eagles, Paul Butorac came off the bench to grab five offensive rebounds and hit 7 of 8 shots for a career-high 17 points. Backup point guard Danny Pariseau matched his career highs with eight assists and three steals.

"We're expected to step up," Butorac said. "Coach tells us our roles. We have to know what to do when we get in."

In all, 11 of 12 players scored as the Eagles hit the century mark for only the fourth time against a league team, winning for the first time.

"That's huge this time of year," Giacoletti said. "You start getting into February, you get some help off that bench, boy, that's a shot of adrenaline."

Last year the Eagles struggled against the ISU zone, losing two close games before winning in the conference tournament. Giacoletti called it deja vu when his team made just one of its first six shots, all 3-pointers, to fall behind 9-3.

But Eastern hit its next eight shots and a horse race was on. Shortly after catching the Bengals, the Eagles hit six straight, but only led 36-32 with 5:30 left in the half because ISU hit 14 of 19 shots.

Then the Eagles went on a scorching 18-2 run, hitting 11 of their last 14 field goals while the Bengals were 1 of 8. That produced a 54-34 lead for Eastern, which finished the half making 21 of 32 shots (66 percent), including 7 of its final 10 3s.

"They pressured us with their man-to-man defense and we took poor shots," Oliver said. "We were down four at 5:40 and down 20 at the half, game, set and match. There was no way we were going to get back in that ball game against their intensity."

"Alvin sets the tone," Giacoletti said. "He's the first guy to make the extra pass. He's the senior leader."

Snow had 15 points at halftime and scored five quick points to open the second half to make sure the Eagles didn't have a letdown.

"The leaders have really been on guys, not so much during games but in practice," Snow said. "It's the kind of deal where we demand of each other to bring it to practice every single day. . . . I think it carries over."

Eastern, which has won five straight, faces defending champion Weber State (10-9, 3-3) at Reece Court on Saturday. EWU 100, Idaho State 73Idaho State (8-12, 3-3)_Henry 4-8 0-0 8, D'Amore 2-6 0-0 5, J.Smith 6-8 0-0 12, Gardner 2-6 0-0 6, Poole 11-18 0-1 22, Lewis 0-0 1-2 1, Thomas 2-4 0-0 5, Rede 2-2 2-2 6, Key 0-1 0-0 0, Bradley 3-4 0-0 8. Totals 32-57 3-5 73.

Eastern Washington (9-10, 5-1)_Barnard 6-11 0-0 18, Axton 4-6 34- 12, Nelson 5-7 1-1 11, Merritt 3-7 2-2 8, Snow 9-16 0-0 20, Henkel 1-3 0-0 2, Pariseau 1-3 0-0 3, McCulloch 1-2 0-0 2, Wortham 0-0 0-0 0, Butorac 7-8 3-5 17, G.Smith 1-1 3-4 5, Nicholas 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 39-65 12-16 100.

Halftime_Eastern Washington 54, Idaho State 34. 3-point goals_Idaho State 6-12 (Bradley 2-3, Gardner 2-4, Thomas 1-2, D'Amore 1-3), Eastern Washington 10-24 (Barnard 6-11, Snow 2-6, Pariseau 1-1, Axton 1-3, Henkel 0-1, Merritt 0-2). Fouled out_None. Rebounds_Idaho State 19 (Henry, Poole 5), Eastern Washington 34 (Axton, Snow, Butorac 6). Assists_Idaho State 14 (Poole 9), Eastern Washington 31 (Pariseau 8). Total fouls_Idaho State 14, Eastern Washington 13. Technicals_Merritt. A_2,214.

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