­­­­­­­Eastern Washington University "Eagles" Men's Basketball (14-7/6-2 Big Sky) Jan. 28 – at Montana State, 1 p.m., Missoula, Mont. Feb. 2 – Sacramento State, 6 p.m., Cheney, Wash. all times Pacific
Radio:	700-AM ESPN in Spokane, with Larry Weir calling the play-by-play. Broadcasts begin a half-hour prior to tipoff
Internet Radio:	http://www.700espn.com or http://www.tunein.com
Radio iPhone App:	Search for "700 ESPN" and download app. An app is also available for tunein radio.
TV:	None
­­­Webcast:	All EWU home games and all Big Sky Conference games available via http://goeags.com/sports/2016/1/5/watchbigsky.aspx?id=73 or http://watchbigsky.com
Live Stats:	Montana State http://ewustats.com for all EWU home games.
Weekly Coaches Show:	The next show is Monday, Jan. 30 at the Swinging Doors in North Spokane (shows Mondays through at least Feb. 27) . . .  700-AM ESPN, http://www.700espn.com & via iphone app. (search for "Spokane Radio" and download app).

The top three teams in the Big Sky Conference have each won three-straight games, but the Bobcats are clipping at their heels.
 
The Eastern Washington University men's basketball team will take on the hottest team in the league when it plays Montana State Saturday (Jan. 28) at 1 p.m. Pacific time at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman, Mont. Fans can listen on 700-AM ESPN and via the web at www.700espn.com, with pre-game coverage starting a half-hour prior to tipoff. All Big Sky games will also be broadcast via www.watchbigsky.com.
 
Eastern won for the sixth time in eight conference games Thursday (Jan. 26) with a 72-60 victory at Montana, giving EWU a three-game winning streak heading to Bozeman. The Bobcats, however, have won their last four including Thursday's 94-91 double-overtime win over Idaho. Eastern is 14-7 overall and 6-2 in the league, and MSU is 10-12 on the season and 5-4 in the Big Sky.
 
 "The Bobcats are on a roll," said Eastern head coach Jim Hayford of the rematch of EWU's 82-64 victory over the Bobcats in Cheney on Jan. 5. "They are playing with poise and confidence. Their young backcourt is already something special. Coach (Brian) Fish has them playing with intensity and focus."
 
The Eagles will by trying for their sixth sweep on the road in Montana in the last 30 years since joining the Big Sky in 1987. Eastern also swept the Grizzlies and Bobcats in Montana in 2015, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 1990.
 
Just a half-game game separates 6-2 Eastern from first-place Weber State (6-1) and second-place North Dakota (7-2). The Eagles were able to distance themselves from Montana (5-4), with Portland State (4-3), Montana State (5-4) and Idaho (4-4) close behind. The top five teams secure first-round byes in the Big Sky Conference Tournament March 7-11 to Reno, Nevada. There are still 10 games left to play for the Eagles in the league season.
 
Montana State features the league's leading scorer in sophomore guard Tyler Hall, who is averaging 23.5 points per game to rank fifth in NCAA Division I. He scored 31 versus the Vandals and had 33 in the first meeting with EWU. The Bobcats average 79.9 points per game to rank 52nd nationally, but EWU counters with a defense that is allowing a league-best 67.0 points per game in Big Sky games only.
 
Wiley had a near triple-double in the previous meeting. He had what was then a career-high 25 points by making 10-of-15 shots from the field and 5-of-7 free throws. He also had 10 rebounds, a career-high seven assists and three blocked shots.
 
"This is going to be a great Big Sky game," added Hayford. "These are the ones that make the year of work you do in the off season as a player all worth it. Big game. Big challenge. Big fun."
 
In the win over the Griz, Eastern took an eight-point lead at halftime and led by as many as 16 in the second half. Four players scored in double figures, including 28 by Bogdan Bliznyuk, 10 for reigning two-time Big Sky Player of the Jacob Wiley and a combined 23 by true freshmen Mason Peatling and Luka Vulikic.
 
Eastern made 50 percent from the field at Montana – its third-straight to improve to 9-0 this season when making at least half of its shots. Eastern had a home sweep the previous weekend, collectively out-shooting its two opponents 53 percent to 38 percent and opening second half leads of 25 (Northern Arizona) and 30 (Southern Utah).
 
The Bobcats swept a road trip a week ago, beating Sacramento State 74-65 and then registering a 71-65 road win at Portland State. The Bobcats haven't lost since falling at home to North Dakota 90-85 on Jan. 12, and EWU hasn't lost since losing at Weber State 70-67 on Jan. 14. Montana State is 8-5 at home this season while EWU has a 4-6 road record.
 
Following Saturday's game, Eastern returns home to Reese Court to host Sacramento State on Thursday, Feb. 2 at 6:05 p.m. Pacific time, then host Portland State on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 1:05 p.m. in a game televised by SWX.
 
 
 

Team Notes

 
Defense Continues Impressive Play in League Season
 
Eastern held Montana on Jan. 26 to 60 points, 43 percent from the field and 29 percent from the 3-point stripe (4-of-14) to continue EWU's impressive performances during league play. After eight conference games, Eastern continues to have the Big Sky's best scoring defense (67.0) and the best defensive 3-point shooting percentage (.327). Eastern is also second defensively in shooting percentage overall (.406, with Idaho leading at .405) while leading the league in scoring margin (+9.0) and field goal percentage (.506).
 
The defense for the Eagles includes the top six performances this season versus NCAA Division I foes of 62, 64, 65, 62, 68 and 60 points allowed in games versus Idaho, MSU, Montana, Northern Arizona, Southern Utah and Montana, respectively. For the season, EWU leads the league in blocked shots (5.3 per game to rank 29th in the nation). Eastern had entered league play ranked ninth among 12 teams in scoring defense (78.6), eighth in field goal percentage defense (.455) and ninth in 3-point percentage defense (.377), and have since improved those rankings to sixth (74.2), second (.437) and fourth (.360).
 
Eastern held Idaho to 31 percent shooting from the field for EWU's top defensive performance of the season, and that game included a stretch of nine-straight misses for UI and two others of six-straight. In the next game versus MSU, the Bobcats had 11-straight misses at one point and had stretches of 11:23 and 3:58 without a field goal. Montana scored just 65 points in an Eagle loss, and went the first 5:13 without a point. In Eastern's next game, the Eagles held Idaho State scoreless for the first 4:09 of the game, in addition to another scoreless stretch of 5:02 and a game-deciding 4:42 period without a field goal. Against Northern Arizona, Eastern had stretches of 5:28 in the first half and 6:34 in the second half without allowing a field goal. Versus Southern Utah, en route to a 47-22 halftime lead, Eastern held the Thunderbirds without a field goal for 6:35. Montana had stretches of 3:04, 3:00 and 2:59 without baskets.
 
 
Eastern Has Big Sky's Top RPI at No. 151
 
Eastern is back on top of the Big Sky Conference in RPI with a ranking of 151 compared to 160 for Weber State (EWU was a season high 57th on 12/13 in the official NCAA RPI ratings). Prior to beating Montana on Jan. 26, Eastern had fallen behind Weber State. The next-best Big Sky teams are Montana (#198), North Dakota (#202) and Portland State (#245). Montana State is currently 285th. With an 8-5 mark entering Big Sky play, Eastern joined Portland State at 7-4 as the only other league team above the .500 mark prior to the start of the league season. Plus, the Eagles received 10 votes in the Collegeinsider.com Mid-Major top 25 on Dec. 12 when the Eagles were 7-2.
 
 
Eastern 33rd in the Nation in Free Throw Percentage
 
Eastern's clutch free throw shooting is a major reason EWU won its first six games decided by six points or less (EWU is now 6-2 in games decided by six or less and 8-3 in games decided by 10 or less). Eastern has made 75.5 percent thus far to lead the league and rank 33rd in NCAA Division I (Notre Dame leads at 82.0 percent). Jacob Wiley is 53rd at 86.5 percent (83-of-96) and Bogdan Bliznyuk is 120th at 82.2 percent (74-of-90). They are ranked fourth and seventh, respectively, in the Big Sky. Felix Von Hofe is not ranked, but has made 30-of-37 thus far (81.1 percent). A season-low 50 percent performance against Xavier on Dec. 20 (9-of-18) dropped EWU from second to seventh in the nation, and a 15-of-24 performance at Colorado dropped the Eagles to 14th.
 
 
Eagles Set School Record Already for Overtime Periods
 
The Eagles are finding a way to win close games, and have already set a school record with six extra periods this season. Eastern defeated Seattle 80-76 in double overtime on Nov. 22 and then beat Denver in its next game in overtime by an 85-80 score. Two games later, the Eagles played at Seattle in another double-overtime thriller, winning 93-88. In its most recent OT game, Eastern beat Morehead State 88-86 on Dec. 13. The previous record for overtime periods in a single year was five in the 1998-99 season, including four extra periods in a 101-100 loss to Weber State on Jan. 16, 1993. The Eagles had no overtime games last season, two in 2014-15, one in 2013-14 and four in 2012-13
 
 
Eagles Entered League Play With 8-5 Record After Successful Pre-Conference Schedule
 
Eastern entered league play with a winning record of 8-5 – only the fifth time that has happened in 30 years in the Big Sky. The impressive start for EWU equals the NCAA Tournament team of 2014-15 (9-4) and the 1985-86 team (9-4) as the only teams to start 8-5 or better in 34 years in NCAA Division I. This year's Eagles were just the sixth team in 34 years to start 5-2 or better, including three under Hayford.
 
 
Eagles Picked as High as No. 5 in Preseason Polls
 
The Big Sky Conference men's basketball race is going to be a dogfight, and 2016-17 preseason predictions bear that out. Coming off its best back-to-back seasons in its NCAA Division I history, Eastern has been picked fifth by the media and seventh by the coaches in the league's preseason basketball polls released Oct. 14.
 
While the Eagles appear loaded and ready for another Big Sky title run, the rest of the league is as well. Weber State was picked to win the title in both polls, while the media picked Montana at No. 2, Idaho third and North Dakota to finish fourth just ahead of the Eagles and Idaho State at No. 5. After Weber State, the coaches picked the order of finish as Idaho, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho State, Montana State and then EWU.
 
"This is my sixth year as the head coach of Eastern and I anticipate this to be the most balanced and competitive conference season we have seen yet," said Eastern head coach Jim Hayford.
 
The 2017 Big Sky men's basketball championship will take place March 7 through 11 at the Reno Events Center in Reno, Nev. Tickets for the 2017 Big Sky Basketball Championships are now on sale. Visit http://RoadtoReno.com for more information.
 
 
Eagles Coming Off First Postseason Victory as a Member of NCAA Division I
 
The Eagles finished the 2015-16 season with an 18-16 record and advanced to the second round of the College Basketball Invitational, including the school's first NCAA Division I postseason win with a 79-72 victory over Pepperdine. Eastern finished fourth in the Big Sky Conference with a 10-8 league mark, then beat Northern Arizona 74-52 in the first round of the league tournament. Eastern was the Big Sky's 2014-15 regular season and tournament champion, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
 
The 44 combined victories the last two years are the most in since EWU became a member of NCAA Division I in the 1983-84 season. They are the most overall in 39 years since EWU won a combined 45 in the 1976-77 and 1977-78 seasons as a member of the NAIA.
 
Eastern finished the season ranked fifth in NCAA Division I with an average of 10.5 3-pointers made per game. Eastern also ranked 15th in NCAA Division I in scoring offense (81.4 points per game), 16th in overall field goal accuracy (48.3 percent) and 25th in accuracy from the 3-point stripe (38.5 percent).
 
 
Coaches Shows Continue on Mondays Through at Least Feb. 27
 
The weekly Eastern Washington University Men's Basketball Coaches Show featuring head coach Jim Hayford and host Larry Weir now take place Mondays at 6 p.m. Pacific time at the Swinging Doors in North Spokane (W. 1018 Francis). Additional interviews with players and other guests will also be featured. Fans may attend the one-hour shows live, or listen on 700-AM ESPN and via the web at www.700espn.com. Programming on 700-AM ESPN is also available via mobile phone aps (search for "Spokane Radio" and download app) and www.tunein.com (an app is also available for tunein radio).  Shows will continue Mondays through at least Feb. 27. The show on March 6 depends on team travel arrangements for the Big Sky Conference Tournament in Reno, Nevada. Shows on March 13 and March 20 are also possible and will be determined by EWU's postseason fate and availability of Hayford.
 
 
Rodney Stuckey in 10th Season in NBA; Former Eagle Drew Brandon Signs with Romania Pro Team
 
Former Eastern men's basketball player Drew Brandon recently signed with the CS Phoenix Galati in Romania after playing previously in Germany, and is one of 14 former Eagles currently playing professionally. The most famous is Rodney Stuckey, who is in his 10th season in the NBA (now with the Indiana Pacers after seven years with the Detroit Pistons) after earning honorable mention All-America honors for Eastern in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons.
 
Brandon was a member of EWU's 2015 NCAA Tournament team, and CS Phoenix is a member of the Romania Liga Nationala League. In 30 games as a rookie for Bayer in Germany last season, Brandon averaged 10.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.4 steals per game. He was named to the Eurobasket.com All-German 2.Bundesliga Pro A squad as an honorable mention selection, and was on its All-Defensive Team.
 
Former Eagles Venky Jois and Tyler Harvey are also currently playing overseas. In his first four games with Tartu Ulikool/Rock in Estonia in the 2016-17 season, Jois was averaging 7.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.8 blocked shots per game, including 17 points and 13 rebounds in an 88-57 victory over Audentese in Estonia.
 
In his first five games with Auxilium Torino in Italy in the 2016-17 season, Harvey was averaging 6.2 points, 1.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game, and made 8-of-29 3-point shots. He averaged 11.9 points in 37 games as a rookie for the Erie Bay Hawks in the NBA's Developmental League, making 80-of-231 three-pointers for 34.6 percent.
 
In addition, former Eagle Laron Griffin recently signed with KB Trepca Mitrovice (SuperLeague) in Kosovo. Most recently, Griffin played for San Miguel in Liga MB in Salvador where in 18 games he averaged 16.3 points, 14.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.3 blocks per game.

Eastern has 14 former players who have played in the pro ranks within the last year. The complete list of current and former professionals is located at: http://goeags.com/sports/2016/6/27/eagles-in-the-pros.aspx
 
 
 
 

Player Notes

 
Wiley Now Ninth in NCAA Division I in Field Goal Percentage and Eighth in Blocked Shots
 
Ranked in the top 10 nationally in two statistical categories, Jacob Wiley continues to surge in the NCAA Division I and the Big Sky Conference statistical rankings.
 
For the season, he is averaging 17.1 points per game overall on 62.8 percent shooting to rank ninth in the nation and third in the league. He's also averaging 2.9 blocked shots (first in the league and eighth nationally) and has made 86.5 percent from the free throw line (third in the league and 53rd nationally). In addition, he is averaging 8.0 rebounds on the season (third in the league and 100th nationally) and 2.4 assists per game.
 
In league-only statistics, Wiley is ranked in the top three in four different categories during what will be a one-year career at EWU. He leads in blocked shots (2.5), and is second in rebounding (8.6), second in field goal percentage (.670) and third in scoring (22.8). He's also made 86.2 percent of his free throws in league play (fifth) and has averaged 3.1 assists (12th) and 1.1 steals.
 
He has had at least 27 points in three of his last five games, and at least 21 in six of EWU's eight league outings. For the season, he has scored at least 20 eight times and in double figures in all but two of EWU's 21 games. In addition, he has had four double figure rebounding performances, including a season-high 14 against Montana on Jan. 7.
 
As a result, he earned Mid-Major Player of the Week honors, as well as Big Sky Conference Player of the Week, from College Sports Madness on Jan. 23. That day he was also chosen by the league office as Big Sky Conference Player of the Week for the second week in a row. In victories over Northern Arizona (84-62) and Southern Utah (83-68), the senior graduate transfer made 67.7 percent of his shots from the field (21-of-31) and 9-of-10 free throws and added 16 rebounds, nine assists, eight blocked shots and a pair of steals. He scored 31 points versus NAU on 14-of-16 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 from the free throw line.
 
Prior to his 30-point output versus NAU on Jan. 19, he had had career-high performances of 27 and 36 points, respectively, in a victory over Idaho State on Jan. 12 and a three-point loss to Weber State two days later. His performance at Weber State equaled the 16th-most in school history and helped earn him Big Sky Conference Player of the Week honors for the first time of his career on Jan. 17.
 
While impressive, his 63 points in back-to-back games is not rare in recent years for EWU. A year ago, Austin McBroom scored 73 points in back-to-back games – the third time in two years an Eagle has scored at least 72 points in back-to-back games. It was the most in back-to-back Big Sky Conference games in school history, besting the 70 Rodney Stuckey, now with the Indiana Pacers in the NBA, had late in the 2006-07 season against Weber State (34) and Portland State (36). In the 2014-15 season, Venky Jois had 38 each in back-to-back games versus Eastern Oregon and Seattle, then Tyler Harvey had a total of 73 in consecutive games versus L-C State (34) and Weber State (39). The most Harvey had in back-to-back league games was 61 as a senior against Northern Colorado (37) and North Dakota (24). The Big Sky record was set by Damian Lillard (now of the Portland Trailblazers), who had 75 in two games in Feb. of 2012 (40 vs. Portland State 2/2 and 35 vs. Northern Colorado 2/4).
 
Wiley had a near triple-double with what was then a career-high 25 points in an 82-64 win over Montana State by making 10-of-15 shots from the field and 5-of-7 free throws. He also had 10 rebounds, a career-high seven assists and three blocked shots. His scoring performance versus Montana State eclipsed his previous career high of 23 points one game earlier at Idaho when he sank 9-of-13 shots from the field and added nine rebounds and five blocked shots in the 69-62 win. He had 16 points, six rebounds, five blocks and four assists versus 17th-ranked Xavier on Dec. 20, then had 10 points, eight rebounds and two more blocks against Colorado two nights later. Prior to that he had back-to-back double-double performances, with 12 points and 12 rebounds against Morehead State on Dec. 13 and 14 points and 12 more boards against Northern Kentucky on Dec. 18.
 
Earlier this season, Wiley was the MVP of the Legends Classic sub-regional round in Cheney, Wash, finishing with 20 points, nine rebounds, five blocked shots, five assists and a pair of steals in an 80-76 double-overtime victory over Seattle in the championship game. The previous night in an 81-77 win over Bryant, he scored 18 points and had a team-high nine rebounds, sinking 10-of-12 free throws and four of seven shots from the floor.
 
Wiley's numbers compare favorably with those of the forward he's replacing in the starting lineup – all-time leading scorer Venky Jois. Now playing professionally, Jois averaged 14.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 2.3 assists in his 122-game career, and made 58.3 percent from the field. However, Wiley has a significant advantage at the free throw line where Jois made only 55.0 percent in his career.
 
Wiley capped a spectacular junior season for Lewis-Clark State in 2015-16 by earning first team NAIA All-America honors after averaging 14.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots per game. He led L-C State to a 29-5 record and was the fourth-most accurate shooter (.604) in the NAIA, as well as ranking 20th in blocks per game and 43rd in rebounds per game. An Academic All-Frontier Conference selection while at L-C State, Wiley originally played 20 games at Montana in the 2012-13 season. He is 2012 graduate of nearby Newport (Wash.) High School.
 
As a true freshman for Montana in the 2012-13 season, Wiley played in 20 games and averaged 3.0 minutes, 0.9 points and 0.6 rebounds per game. In two regular season victories over EWU, he played one minute in each. Wiley scored two points in an 81-66 win in Missoula and had a rebound in a 65-46 triumph in Cheney. His career highlight came during Montana's 2013 NCAA Tournament round game against Syracuse when he scored five points and recorded one block in the 81-34 loss. After quitting the basketball team prior to his sophomore season, he joined the Montana track and field squad and competed in the 400 meters.
 
 
Two-Time Big Sky Player of the Week Bogdan Bliznyuk Ranks 69th Nationally in Scoring
 
A two-time Big Sky Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week earlier in the season, after 21 games Bogdan Bliznyuk is ranked in the top 12 in four different statistical categories in the league, ranking sixth in points (18.6 per game), 12th in rebounds (5.9), fifth in assists (4.0) and seventh in free throw percentage (.822). He ranks 69th nationally in scoring and is 120th in free throw percentage.
 
He is coming off his 11th 20-point performance this season and 18th in his career with 28 points at Montana on Jan. 26. He also had 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season and 12th of his career. It was his highest-scoring game since netting 34 against Morehead State on Dec. 13 and his first double-double since Dec. 4. He scored 21 points on Jan. 21 against Southern Utah, in which he equaled his career high with five steals. En route to 19 points versus Idaho State on Jan. 12, he scored all 10 points in a game-deciding 10-0 run in the second half of the 92-85 win. One game earlier, he finished with 21 in a 65-59 loss to Montana on Jan. 7. He closed the nonconference schedule with a 25-pointer performance at Colorado on Dec. 22 that included 21 in the first half, scoring 18-straight Eastern points at one point. He had a career-high 34-point effort in EWU's 88-86 win over Morehead State on Dec. 13, making 13-of-19 field goals and 7-of-10 free throws. Bliznyuk had a double-double with 31 points and 12 rebounds in EWU's 93-88 double-overtime non-conference victory over Seattle on Dec. 4 to earn his second of two Big Sky Conference Player of the Week honors. Formerly from Lutsk, Ukraine, and a 2014 graduate of Todd Beamer High School near Seattle, he had 12 rebounds to finish with the 11th double-double in his career, including the school's first and only triple-double last season. The previous week, after helping EWU win three home games, Bliznyuk was also the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week.
 
He came a rebound away from the second triple-double in school history (he had the first as a sophomore last year) with 22 points, a career-high 11 assists and nine rebounds in an 85-80 win over Denver. The next night, he equaled what was then his career-high with 32 points, and added seven rebounds and seven assists in a 96-90 shootout win against San Francisco. He made 9-of-16 shots from the field, both of his 3-pointers and 12-of-13 free throws in the win over the Dons, which equaled the career high of 32 he had on Nov. 21 in a win over Bryant. In that game, Bliznyuk made 11-of-15 shots overall, both of his 3-point attempts and all eight of his free throws, to go along with seven rebounds and four assists.
 
Bliznyuk's 22 points, career-high 11 assists and nine rebounds against Denver on Nov. 26 was the fourth time since Jan. 11, 2014, that an Eagle had come one stat from a triple-double. The other three were by Drew Brandon. Bliznyuk had 11 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists against Northern Arizona on Jan. 16, 2016, for the first triple-double in school history. The closest former Eagle Rodney Stuckey – now playing in the NBA for Indiana – came was 14 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists on Nov. 19, 2005, versus Pacific Lutheran.
 
Bliznyuk compiled some big numbers during Eastern's seven-game winning streak from Nov. 21 to Dec. 13, including four performances of at least 31 points. He averaged 25.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game in that stretch, making 53.0 percent of his field goals, 37.5 percent of his 3-point shots (9-of-24) and 89.6 percent of his free throws (43-of-48). Until falling 70-48 to Northern Kentucky on Dec. 18, Eastern hadn't lost since falling at Texas 85-52 on Nov. 17.
 
 
Felix Von Hofe Up to 14th in Big Sky History for 3-Pointers Made, Just 32 from School Record

With a team-leading 62 3-pointers this season, senior Felix Von Hofe ranks 37th in NCAA Division I with an average of 2.95 per game, helping EWU rank 99th as a team in makes per game (8.3) and 88th in percentage (37.1).
 
Von Hofe has moved up to 14th in career 3-pointers in the Big Sky Conference with 228. He ranks second in school history, having recently moved past his former teammate Parker Kelly with 210 from 2012-15. Von Hofe is now 32 from the record of 260 set by his former teammate Tyler Harvey from 2013-15. At his current pace of 2.95 per game this season, he would finish the regular season tied with Harvey at 260. Von Hofe is also second in school history with 5627attempts, and his percentage of .402 is 12th.
 
Von Hofe now has had 12 performances of at least 20 points in his Eastern career, including four this year and seven as a junior in 2015-16 when he had the fourth-most 3-pointers in school history with 105. He has scored in double figures 10 times this season and 36 times in his career (20 as a junior), and has led EWU in scoring on 11 occasions (eight in 2015-16). He had five 3-pointers and 19 total points in an 82-64 win over Montana State on Jan. 5.  One game earlier, Von Hofe had a 22-point performance in a 69-67 victory over Idaho on Dec. 30 that included six 3-pointers.
 
During EWU's seven-game winning streak earlier this season, he averaged 16.1 points and made 25-of-63 3-pointers and 20-of-24 free throws. He had a pair of 20-point performances in that stretch – 23 with six 3-pointers against Denver and 21 with five more treys versus San Francisco – then had 19 in EWU's double-overtime win at Seattle.
 
 
Hunt Has Hot Weekend in Split Versus MSU and UM
 
Sophomore Jesse Hunt came off the bench to contribute 21 points in just 34 minutes of action in EWU's split against Montana State and Montana. In the two games, he made 7-of-8 shots (3-of-4 from the 3-point line) and added nine rebounds. He had a career-high 13 points in 18 minutes against Montana State, having entered that game averaging just 2.2 points per game and scoring seven points in his previous five games. He also had seven rebounds against the Bobcats, coming one from his career high. Hunt then scored eight versus Montana, hitting all three of his shots from the field with a pair of 3-pointers. He is now averaging 3.0 points and 2.4 rebounds this season after a freshman season that saw him average 1.9 points and 1.8 rebounds in 30 games (nine as a starter).
 
 
Ty Gibson Has Career Day Versus Argos
 
Sophomore Ty Gibson scored 13 points in a less than four minute span in the first half and finished with a career-high 19 points in EWU's 103-76 victory over Great Falls on Dec. 8. In helping Eastern open leads of 27-2 and 39-4, he played only 15 minutes and still nearly doubled his previous high of 10 last year versus Southern Utah and on Nov. 27 this season versus San Francisco. He scored 13 points in a 3:43 stretch in the first half with four three-pointers and a free throw. Gibson made 6-of-7 shots from the field – all 3-point attempts – and made all three of his free throws. For the season, he is averaging 4.2 points on 52.9 percent shooting from the field, including 25-of-46 3-pointers (54.3 percent to rank second in the Big Sky). He is a 2015 graduate of Issaquah (Wash.) High School.
 
 
Eagles Starting Pair of True Freshmen, Who Combine for 23 at Montana
 
A pair of Eagle true freshmen have been in the starting lineup since Dec. 20, including point guard Luka Vulikic from Belgrade, Serbia, and forward Mason Peatling from Melbourne, Australia. That starting unit is 7-3 thus far, with the two freshmen combining for 23 points in EWU's 72-60 win at Montana on Jan. 26.
 
Vulikic has started 17 of 21 games, and is averaging 3.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game. He had just two turnovers in 58 combined minutes versus Xavier and Colorado, and he equaled his season high with 12 points versus the Buffaloes. He had 10 points and six rebounds at Montana.
 
Peatling made his starting debut versus 17th-ranked Xavier on Dec. 20 and has started every game since. He is averaging 4.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.6 blocked shots, with a high of 13 points at Montana on Jan. 26 and highs of nine rebounds and three blocked shots versus Idaho on Dec. 30. He also had seven points versus the Vandals and has made 56.9 percent of his shots from the field for the season (41-of-72) and 42.9 percent of his 3-pointers (9-of-21).
 
 
Bliznyuk Earns Mid-Season "Player of the Year So Far" Honors, and Wiley is Also Honored
 
Eastern's Bogdan Bliznyuk and Jacob Wiley were honored Dec. 30 by HoopsHD.Com as mid-season All-Big Sky Conference selections. Bliznyuk was named that organization's "Player of the Year So Far," and he was joined on the all-league team by senior graduate transfer Jacob Wiley.
 
"There are three parts of the season – non-conference, conference and post-season," said Eastern head coach Jim Hayford. "Our team only has four upperclassmen this year and we need their leadership and consistent play. Jacob and Bogdan played well in November and December. Recognition for them is earned and deserved.  Now we move forward together with their leadership."
 
 
Julian Harrell Will Miss Rest of Season With Shoulder Injury
 
The collegiate career for Julian Harrell has ended with surgery to repair a disabling shoulder injury, head coach Jim Hayford announced Nov. 21. With a 3.89 grade point average, Harrell saw action in two of Eastern's three games this season, but played just 36 total minutes. In his 23-game career as an Eagle he averaged 7.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists, making 47.1 percent of his shots from the field. He transferred to Eastern from City College of San Francisco after originally playing at Penn in the 2012-13 (redshirt) and 2013-14 seasons.
 
"This is terrible news, and very disappointing for Julian, his family and his teammates," said Hayford of the 2012 graduate of Loyola High School in Los Angeles. "Julian has giving everything he can to our program for two years, and will graduate winter quarter as an honors student. Though not replaceable, our team will work very hard to step up and honor Julian with our work this season."
 
Harrell will graduate from Eastern with an interdisciplinary studies/liberal arts degree. He was a Big Sky Conference All-Academic selection last season, and entered this year as a preseason fourth team All-Big Sky selection by College Sports Madness.
 
 "The hardest thing for me to do is to accept that I won't be able to play this season," said Harrell. "This team has something special brewing, and I wanted to be out there playing with my brothers. There isn't a doubt in my mind that they will be successful this year. Though I'm expected to make a full recovery, it truly hurts that I can't be on the court during the special season that this team will have. Thank you to the EWU community for the love and support since I first arrived on campus -- it means a lot. Go Eags!"
 
 
Trio of Eagles Earn Preseason Honors
 
Junior forward Bogdan Bliznyuk was selected as a first team selection on the College Sports Madness preseason All-Big Sky Conference team. Seniors Felix Von Hofe and Julian Harrell were both picked as fourth team selections. All three were starters last season on a team that featured a pair of All-Big Sky Conference and All-District 6 selections in Venky Jois and Austin McBroom. 
 
"We lost two great starters from last year's team to graduation. It's nice to see the other three guys who started recognized for what they have done," said Eastern head coach Jim Hayford. "I am excited about what they will do as leaders of this year's team."
 
Last year, Bliznyuk averaged 12.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, and registered the first triple-double in school history. Von Hofe averaged 13.0 points and 3.1 made 3-pointers per game, and Harrell chipped in 8.3 points and 2.8 rebounds after missing 13 games with a hand injury.
 
 
Quartet Sign Letters of Intent With Eagle Basketball
 
A quartet of high school players, including 6-foot-9 forward Tanner Groves from Shadle Park High School in Spokane, Wash., have signed letters of intent to play basketball and attend Eastern Washington University, EWU head coach Jim Hayford announced Nov. 9.
 
The others signed include 6-6 forward Brendan Howard, who was Montana's Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior at Great Falls High School. The third signee was Australian Jack Perry, a 6-2 guard who joins a group of five Aussies currently on EWU's roster. The fourth was 6-7 guard/forward Kim Aiken, an All-CIF selection from East Valley High School in Redlands, Calif.
 
More on the signing class, including comments from head coach Jim Hayford, is available at: http://goeags.com/news/2016/11/9/mens-basketball-quartet-sign-letters-of-intent-with-eagle-basketball.aspx?path=mbball
 
 
 
 

Series Notes

 
* Eastern has now won eight of the last 10 meetings against MSU, but had its five-game winning streak stopped with an 85-71 loss in Bozeman last season in the lone meeting between the two schools. Eastern has won 19 of the last 33 after winning just once in the previous 13 games (not counting two MSU forfeits). The Eagles are 39-44 all-time against MSU, including a 31-35 record as a member of NCAA Division I (21-12 in Cheney, 10-23 in Bozeman). The records include two MSU forfeits in the 1993-94 season. In the 2011-12 season, Eastern recorded a huge 82-66 road victory over the Bobcats in the first Big Sky Conference game in the head coaching career of Jim Hayford, then later in the year won in Cheney 69-52. Hayford is 8-2 versus the Bobcats, including a 3-2 record in Bozeman and 5-0 mark at home.
 
* Earlier this season in Cheney, senior graduate transfer Jacob Wiley scored what was then a career-high 25 points with a near triple-double, and two big scoring runs fueled by defense helped EWU improve to 2-0 in the Big Sky Conference with an 82-64 victory over Montana State Jan. 5 at Reese Court in Cheney, Wash. Senior Felix Von Hofe added 19 points with five three-pointers and Jesse Hunt came off the bench to score a career-high 13 points in the 10th win of the season for the Eagles. Eastern made a season-best 60.4 percent from the field, but it was its defense that made the difference as MSU made only 38 percent in the game. Montana State missed 11-straight shots at one point and went 11:23 without a field goal as EWU used a 21-3 run to turn an 8-4 deficit into a 25-11 lead in the first half. Eastern held the Bobcats to 27 percent shooting and just 22 points in the first half for the second-best defensive half of the season for EWU. In the second half after Tyler Hall led MSU's rally, a 9-0 Eagle run and a four-minute stretch without a field goal for the Bobcats helped Eastern turn a one-point lead into a double-digit advantage. Eastern led by no less than eight the rest of the way, despite a game-high 33 points by Hall, who at one point scored 17-straight MSU points. Wiley eclipsed his previous career high by two by making 10-of-15 shots from the field and 5-of-7 free throws. He also had 10 rebounds, a career-high seven assists and three blocked shots. Von Hofe made 5-of-7 of his shots from the 3-point stripe and both of his two-point shots. Hunt entered the MSU game averaging just 2.2 points per game and had scored seven points in his previous five games, but he shattered his previous career high of eight points. He also had seven rebounds, one from his career high. Sophomore Cody Benzel added nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from the 3-point stripe. Junior Bogdan Bliznyuk played only 25 minutes because of foul trouble, and finished with eight points, three assists and a pair of steals.
 
 
 

Recent Game Recap

 
With Another Win in Missoula, Eagles Keep Pace With Big Sky Leaders With 72-60 Victory
 
Junior Bogdan Bliznyuk had a double-double with 28 points and 10 rebounds, and a pair of true freshmen chipped in 23 points to lead Eastern to a 72-60 victory over Montana Jan. 26 in Missoula, Mont. The victory was Eastern's third in the last four meetings against the Griz in Missoula. Overall, including EWU's three-game sweep there to capture the 2015 Big Sky Conference Tournament title, EWU has won five of its last six games at Dahlberg. Bliznyuk made 11-of-16 shots from the field, and true freshman Mason Peatling had a career-high 13 points. Fellow first-year player Luka Vulikic and reigning two-time Big Sky Conference Player of the Week Jacob Wiley each scored 10. Thanks to a 15-point performance in the first half by Bliznyuk and a half-ending 9-4 run, Eastern took the lead for good and led by as many as 16 in the second half. Eastern had a 15-6 advantage in points off turnovers in the game and made 50 percent of its shots, and closed out the win by making nine free throws and four field goals in the final 6:44. The Eagles out-rebounded the Griz 36-27 for only Eastern's sixth rebounding advantage of the season in 21 games, improving to 6-0 in those games. Eastern had a commanding 20-9 advantage in the second half, and out-rebounded the Griz 30-13 after Montana took an early 14-6 advantage on the boards.
 

 

Head Coach Jim Hayford Comments

 
On Montana Victory: "It was a fantastic win. We try so hard to win in Missoula, and I know in Eagle Nation whenever we beat the Griz it means a little more. We had some Eagle fans here behind the bench representing all of them. It was just fun having people make the drive over and send them home with a win. It was a great night to be an Eagle."
 
On Performance Versus Griz: "They did a good job early in not allowing Jake Wiley to beat them. Mason hit those early 3-pointers and Bogdan was playing at a really high level. The second half we just owned the boards with a plus 11. We answered their runs, we put together stops and we executed well. We were able to do what we wanted to do to dictate the game, which is hard to do on the road. They were shorthanded without two players. But we had great preparation all week with what they were going to do. And we're a really good free throw shooting team, and we got to the line like we felt we should be able to. Bogdan took care of it down the stretch and made sure nothing crazy was going to happen. That's how you leave Missoula with a 12-point win."
 
On Contributions of Freshmen: "They were really important with our foul trouble early, and Luka gave us big minutes. Mason making those three threes when they were taking away Jake were really big. I'll take those nine points over a 4-for-4 by Jake inside. Give Mason credit for making those. It says something about those two players for coming into a setting like this and scoring 23 points. They didn't flinch – this was just basketball to them."
 
On Defense: "We're really buying into that identity and I'm really proud of our guys."
 
­­­On Big Sky Tournament in Reno: "Ultimately, you are playing for a three or four game winning streak. If you can do that in Reno, you can get the crown jewel. Playing it in Reno is a great experience because every team knows they are coming, you can plan ahead and families can see you play. I thought the environment is great. I'm glad the conference made this move to a neutral site, and I think it is only going to get better and better. It's nice to have experience there, but ultimately you have to build depth for your team to be at its best for those games."