CHENEY, Wash. – The regular season is over, and Eastern Washington men's basketball is headed back to Boise for the 2025 Big Sky Conference Tournament. The Eagles earned the No. 8 seed and will look to flip the script against Northern Arizona.

The tournament begins on Saturday and wraps up on Wednesday, March 12, at Idaho Central Arena. All games will be streamed live on ESPN+, with the championship game airing live on ESPNU next Wednesday.

History with the Lumberjacks
The Eagles are aiming to bounce back after falling 0-2 to Northern Arizona during the regular season. Eastern lost to NAU first in Cheney, 70-61, then again in Flagstaff, 87-67.

In the first matchup, Mason Williams led the Eagles with 18 points, while Andrew Cook and Sebastian Hartmann also finished in double figures. Emmett Marquardt and Cook each grabbed five rebounds, and Nic McClain dished out five assists.

In the second meeting, Andrew Cook led Eastern with 14 points, while Mason Williams added 12 points, four assists, and four rebounds. Nic McClain played a crucial role, leading the team with five assists. As a team, Eastern shot 46.4% from the field and 40.9% from three-point range. However, Northern Arizona was more efficient, shooting 61.8% from the field and 64.3% from beyond the arc. NAU also out-rebounded Eastern, forced more turnovers, and recorded more steals. Both teams scored 22 points off the bench, and each grabbed six offensive rebounds.

Cook is Cooking
Andrew Cook has been a standout for the Eagles this season, starting 26 games and appearing in all 30 contests. He has scored in double digits in all but five games and was named Big Sky Player of the Week for the week of November 12, 2024.

Cook has surpassed 15 points in 15 games, including a career-high 28 against Idaho. His consistency against top-tier competition is impressive, with 18 points against Washington, 24 against Missouri, 20 against Washington State, and 23 against Utah. With his scoring ability and all-around presence, Cook has become a dominant force on the court. He leads the team with 480 points this season, averaging 16 points per game. Additionally, he leads the Big Sky in free throw percentage, shooting an impressive 88% from the charity stripe.

Leading the Charge
Andrew Cook, Nic McClain, Mason Williams, and Emmett Marquardt have been the driving forces behind the Eagles' season. Cook leads the team in scoring with 480 points, averaging 16 points per game. Williams follows closely with 354 points, averaging 13.6 points per game, while McClain ranks third with 312 points and an average of 10.8 points per game.

Freshman Phenom
Emmett Marquardt, a redshirt freshman, has been exceptional, starting every game this season. He has established himself as a force both offensively and defensively. Marquardt leads the team in three-point percentage (36.2%) and rebounds (136 total, 4.4 per game). He also leads the squad in blocks, with 23, the only Eagle to surpass 20 blocks this season.

2024-25 Big Sky Regular Season Recap
The Eagles' regular season has been a roller coaster ride. They started Big Sky play 2-2 before enduring a five-game losing streak. However, February brought a turnaround, with the team going on a four-game win streak, which was snapped by top-ranked UNC. The Eagles are now looking to build on that momentum.

One of Eastern's most thrilling games came against Sacramento State at home in Cheney, Wash. With the game on the line, Williams drained a step-back three-pointer with two seconds remaining, securing an 83-80 victory for the Eagles. The following game against Idaho featured an intense finish. With 1:35 left, the Eagles tied the game at 73-73 after a 4-0 run. Elijah Thomas made a crucial block on the backboard with 36 seconds left, giving Eastern possession. After a foul, Cook knocked down two free throws with 7.8 seconds remaining to give the Eagles their first lead at 75-73. Eastern held on to win the game.
 
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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