COLLEGE PLACE, Wash. – Senior forward Bryan McGriff carded his fourth double-double of the season and the EOU men's basketball team defeated Walla Walla, 96-75, on Saturday night.
 
Despite playing on the road at Windemuth Court, McGriff had no problems leading EOU, shooting eight-for-15 with 23 points, 12 rebounds while also dishing out five assists.
 
Junior wing Austin Winegar netted 11 points, shooting four-for-five while adding two assists. Junior guard Matt Wong connected on four shots adding 11 more points in 18 minutes of play.
 
Junior guard Blake O'Donnell was EOU's second-leading rebounder behind McGriff with six boards and seven points. Senior wing Travis Meeker aided the Mountaineers with a team-leading six assists while chalking up nine points.
 
After missing its first three shots on the game, EOU found itself down 4-0 before McGriff connected with a pair of free throws for EOU's first points of the contest.
 
EOU (9-2, 2-0 CCC) continued to trail until O'Donnell connected on a three-pointer, tying the score at 10 with 13:28 remaining in the first. Wong drilled another long ball for EOU and the Mountaineers had their first lead of the night, 13-10.
 
However, neither the Mounties nor Walla Walla (2-5, 0-1 CCC) could pull away in the first stanza. The Blue and Gold took a five -point lead twice, only for the Uwolves to fight their way back.
 
Walla Walla took back the lead, 33-32, on a three-ball with 2:25 until the half only to add a pair of free throws 25 seconds later.
 
Meeker returned momentum to the EOU sidelines with a three-shot of his own at 1:27, tying the game at 35. Meeker's basket would be the last shot made for either team before the half.
 
The Blue and Gold shook off the slow first half by going on a 20-5 run in the first five minutes of the second half, going up 55-40 on a Wong jumper.
 
With 10:31 remaining, EOU increased its lead to 20 points, 69-47, with a Wong three, set up by a Meeker assist.
 
It would be all Mounties from there, as EOU notched its biggest lead of the night, 87-62, with 5:08 remaining, en route to the 96-75 victory. 
 
In the second stanza, EOU increased its field goal percentage from 34.2 percent to 66.7 percent and its three point percentage from 25 percent in the first half to 55 percent in the second.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
 
4TH – Win in a row for EOU.
66.7 – EOU's shooting percentage vs. Walla Walla in the second half.
45 – Combined points between McGriff, Winegar and Wong.
 
UP NEXT
 
EOU tips-off at home against Corban at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
 
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