SALT LAKE CITY, Utah. — Eastern Washington (1-6) fell to Utah (6-1) by a score of 88-80 in a tough final matchup of the Mountain to Sea Showcase.
"I feel heartbroken for these guys," said head coach
Dan Monson. "They put their heart and soul in that, they stuck to the game plan, and took one of the best three-point shooting team in the country and made them look pretty average."
Despite the loss,
Andrew Cook and
Emmett Marquardt were named to the Mountain to Sea Showcase All-Tournament Team for their standout performances in the Eagles' defeats to UCSB and Utah.
"
Sam Stockton was absolutely what a team player needs to be. To come in as a backup when Nic was in foul trouble and to be plus 18 when he was in the game, it just shows his experience and his feel for the game."
Cook led the way for Eastern Washington with 23 points, while
Sebastian Hartmann,
Nic McClain, and Marquardt each contributed double-digit scoring. Marquardt also led the team on the boards, grabbing seven rebounds, with McClain, Hartmann, and
Vice Zanki adding four each.
First Half:
Utah wasted no time jumping out to an early lead, but Eastern Washington quickly responded with back-to-back baskets. The Eagles kept it close for the first ten minutes, but a technical foul on McClain allowed Utah to convert two free throws and hit a four-point play, stretching their lead to 21-14.
However, Eastern fought back. Tyler Powel and
Andrew Cook hit consecutive three-pointers to bring the Eagles within one with 9:10 left in the half.
Vice Zanki's trailing three-pointer tied the game at 23-23 as the teams headed into a media timeout.
Utah managed to extend its lead several times in the final minutes of the half, but the Eagles remained competitive, matching the Utes' pace. At halftime, Eastern trailed by just two points, 43-41.
Second Half:
McClain opened the second half with a quick bucket to tie the game, and Marquardt knocked down a three-pointer to give Eastern its second lead of the contest.
However, the Eagles went cold for a five-minute stretch, allowing Utah to go on a 9-0 run and build an eight-point advantage. McClain broke the scoring drought with a driving layup, and Cook followed with a tough fadeaway jump shot and an "and-one" opportunity, pulling Eastern back within six.
Despite the momentum shift, Utah answered with another run, pushing their lead to 17 points. But the Eagles refused to give up, rattling off a 12-2 run to close the gap to single digits.
With five minutes left, Eastern trailed by just six points. Following a timely timeout by Utah, the Utes extended their lead back to nine. McClain responded with another layup, and the Eagles called a timeout to regroup.
However, Utah ultimately held off Eastern's comeback effort, maintaining a comfortable lead down the stretch to secure the 88-80 victory.
Up Next:
Eastern Washington will return home to Reese Court to face North Dakota in the opening game of the Big Sky-Summit League Challenge on Wednesday, December 4 at 6 p.m. The Eagles will then head to South Dakota State for a matchup with the Jackrabbits on Saturday, December 7 at 4 p.m. PST.
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.
FOLLOW THE EAGLES
SOCIAL: Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram
Follow the Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky and TikTok for all the latest news around the league and use the hashtag #ExperienceElevated.
