VERMILLION, S.D. — You don't get much hotter than
Dane Erikstrup was on Wednesday night at South Dakota (8-8, 1-1 Summit). The junior forward made seven 3-pointers on his way to a career-high 32 points, leading the Eastern Washington Eagles (7-7, 2-0 Big Sky) to a 93-79 win as they improved to 7-7 overall.
Down by 3 early in the first half, Erikstrup scored 8 of his 32 — and hit two of his triples — to spark an 18-4 Eagle run and take control of the game. The Beaverton, Ore. native unleashed a barrage in that opening frame, matching his previous career-high of 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 5-of-7 3-pointers in just 12 minutes off the bench.
"We got hot from three and the great thing about our offense is that the inside opens the outside and outside opens inside," said head coach David Riley. "We went 9 of 12 from two in that first half."
Boasting a 19-point advantage at the break, EWU got to avenge the disappointment from a similar game in the same state last season; they led by as much as 23 in the 2nd half at South Dakota State on Dec. 10, 2022 before losing 77-76.
After Eastern took a 21-point lead with 14:50 left in regulation on Wednesday, the Coyotes chipped away and got within 10 at 75-65 before Erikstrup struck again with his final two makes from deep, putting the game away for good.
"The last time we were in South Dakota, we weren't able to do that," Riley continued. "We were up big on South Dakota State and couldn't get it done. I am a little disappointed in our second-half defense."
After South Dakota earned 35 points on 45.2% shooting in the first, they found more success in the second half, making 13-of-24 shots (54.2%) for 44 points in the second. Bostyn Holt had 30 for the Yotes, with 10 of those coming from the free throw line, where USD finished 18-for-22.
It's just the third road win of the season for the Eagles, who have played one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country, including seven road trips to high-major programs. Coach Riley consistently noted how those tough matchups have steeled his team, teaching them how to respond in tough situations, especially on the road.
"At the end of the day, it's hard to get a road win… It's exciting for our guys to continue to chip away and get better."
The Eagles close out their non-conference schedule and return to Reese Court on Saturday for a 2 p.m. tip against North Dakota State (7-8; 0-1 Summit), looking to replicate last year's 77-70 win at home when G Steele Venters exploded for 33 points on his way to player of the week honors. It will be just the third meeting between the two programs; NDSU won the first in 2018. The Bison lost to Montana at home on Wednesday night, 96-86.
Eagle Notes
- Erikstrup's 7 made 3-pointers are tied for 11th in program history for threes in a single game. He finished 11-19 overall and 7-12 from 3. Tyler Harvey (2014) and Kevin Winford (2010) hold the EWU record with 10 made 3PT.
- As Erikstrup took all the attention, fellow junior and former transfer Cedric Coward efficiently picked up 23 points and 10 rebounds for his 4th career double-double, 2nd of the season and 1st against a Division-I opponent. He went 9-11 from the floor and 5-7 from 3.
- EWU shot over 50% (51.6%) for the 3rd-straight game and 6th time this season.
- Eastern made 18 3-pointers as a team, two shy of the program record 20 scored against Portland State in 2016. It's the second-most made by a D-I program against a D-I program this season; Alabama made 19 against Eastern Kentucky on Dec. 23.
- EWU continued their pattern of sharing the ball, earning 23 assists on 33 made baskets. They entered the game ranked 7th in the country in Assists Percentage (assists per field goal made) at 65.1%
- Eastern scored 15 points on 11 USD turnovers while allowing only 6 points off 10 Eagle giveaways.
- The road win gives the Big Sky Conference 1.5 points in the 36-game Big Sky - Summit League Challenge, pitting men's and women's teams against each other. The EWU women beat Nebraska-Omaha at home on Wednesday for another point in the quest for bragging rights.
Eastern's next home game is Saturday, Jan. 6 (2 p.m.) against North Dakota State! It will be the final Holiday Hoops game of the season with kids 12 and under earning free admission. Tickets for Saturday and all Eagle Athletics home contests are available at goeags.com/tickets.
ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.
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