LA GRANDE, Ore. – Mountaineer Men's Basketball took care of business Saturday evening with a 23-point beatdown of Northwest University, 77-54, inside Quinn Coliseum on Senior Day. The win not only improves the Mountaineers record to 16-12 overall and 10-10 in CCC play, but it also clinched the team's berth to this year's conference tournament.

Along with securing a spot in the postseason, the win for Eastern Oregon gave seniors Kobi Gardea, Zane Wright, and Max McCullough a Senior Day victory. The win also put the Mountaineers final home record at 10-3.

How it Happened
• Eastern overcame a slow start and ultimately shot 55.9% from the floor in the win, while holding the Eagles (10-15, 7-13 CCC) to 43.8%.
• Bench play and post scoring were once again key in the win for EOU. The Eastern bench outscored NU 45-15 and the Mounties had a 38-16 edge in points in the paint.
• The Mounties were also superb in glass cleanup, grabbing 34 boards in the victory. They held the Eagles to just 26 rebounds on the night.
• In the first half, EOU scored 38 points and held NU to 22 to lead by 16 at the break. Eastern battled back from an early deficit and used a late first half rally to open up the score.
• The Eagles got out to a fast start, scoring 15 points and held EOU to seven to lead by eight in the first seven minutes. Eastern then outscored NU 31-7 the rest of the half. 
• Helping EOU outscore the Eagles by 24 in the final 13 minutes was a 21-0 run. EOU trailed 15-7 with 12:41 to play and then scored 21 straight points over the next six minutes.
• The massive surge by the Mounties gave them a 28-15 lead before NU was able to score again. Justin Jeske scored eight of the team's 21 points to lead the way in the run.
• The Eagles had no answer for the unanswered run by the Mounties and went into the break trailing by 16, 38-22. The rally was the difference as EOU led by double figures the rest of the night.
• Through the first 10 minutes of play in the second half, the Mounties led by as much as 24, 54-30. EOU's surge helped them cruise to the entirety of the second half.
• In the final 10 minutes of play EOU led by as much as 25 a handful of times before grabbing the largest lead of the game at 26, 75-49. The lead came in the final minute before the team walked away with the 77-54 victory.

Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Xavier Lovelace scored a game-high 16 points to go along with five boards and three steals.
• Justin Jeske scored 12 points off the bench and had five rebounds.
• Cooper Lumsden chipped in 10 points in the win. 
• Paul Pennington led the way in rebounds with six and added eight points.

For the Eagles
• Tanner Davis scored nine points and grabbed a game best eight rebounds.
• Carson Sparks also put up nine points on 3-6 shooting.
• Tre Newman added nine points in the loss.

By the Numbers
0 - EOU did not allow a single NU player to score in double figures.
23 - The Mounties racked up 23 steals over the weekend.
5 - Eastern has won its last five home match-ups against the Eagles.
11 - EOU has not shot 50% or better from the field in 11 games this year.
10 - The Mounties finish the year with 10 wins inside Quinn Coliseum.

Up Next
• The Mountaineers wrap up regular season play with two games in Portland. Eastern takes on Multnomah Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m., followed by Warner Pacific on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 5 p.m.

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