LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University Men's Basketball plays its final two games of the regular season this weekend. The Mountaineers head West to Portland looking to earn two wins to build momentum ahead of the 2021-22 CCC Championships, presented by U.S. Bank.

OPPONENTS
Multnomah Lions (13-15, 9-11 CCC)
Warner Pacific Knights (14-14, 10-10 CCC)

WHERE
Portland, Ore. - Jim Skagen Court (MU)
Portland, Ore. - C.C. Perry Gym (WPU)

WHEN
Friday, Feb. 18, 7:30 p.m. - vs. MU
Saturday, Feb. 19, 5 p.m. - vs. WPU

Tip-Off
• The Mountaineers enter the regular season finale weekend with a 16-12 overall record and are 10-10 in CCC play.
• Eastern enters the weekend currently tied for sixth in the CCC standings. EOU is tied with Warner Pacific but has the head-to-head lead.
• Following the two-game road tilt, EOU will hit the road next Wednesday, Feb. 23 for the opening round of the CCC Tournament.
• The Mountaineers seeding and their first round opponent is still to be determined.

How to Watch/Follow
• Livestream coverage of this weekend's games can be found on the Mountie Sports Network at www.EOUSports.com/watch. Live stats can be accessed on the EOU Men's Basketball schedule page and by clicking the respective link above
• Live stats coverage for EOU Men's Basketball games this season can be accessed at www.eousports.com/livestats.

Story Lines
• The Mountaineers wrapped up regular season home play with a 10-3 record.
• Eastern is just 5-9 in true road games this season and has dropped each of the last three games played.
• With the berth to this year's CCC Tournament, EOU has made the conference postseason every year since the 2008-09 season.

Quick Hits
Last Time Out
• Eastern wrapped up play at home this season, winning its final two games in Quinn Coliseum.
• The Mounties defeated Evergreen State, 74-62, and Northwest, 77-54, to go 2-0 on Senior Weekend.
• Against the Geoducks, Phillip Malatare had a double-double with 19 points and 11 points to lead EOU to victory.
• Against the Eagles, seniors Kobi Gardea, Max McCullough, and Zane Wright went out on a high note with a 23-point win. Xavier Lovelace led the way with 16 points.

Previously Against Multnomah/Warner Pacific
• EOU defeated Multnomah with just seven active players in what was a 102-93 home win. It was the highest scoring game for EOU.
• Since the 2012-13 season, Eastern is 18-4 against the Lions. In that span, the Mounties have gone 6-3 on the road against Multnomah.
• Eastern and WPU did not play earlier this season as the Knights forfeited the contest due to COVID-19 protocols.
• Since the 2008-09 season, EOU is just 13-17 against the Knights. On the road, the Mounties are just 2-13 against Warner Pacific.

There's No Place Like Home
• The Mountaineers played 12 games at home this season. They were 9-3 in that span and went 10-3 overall with one win coming via forfeit.
• Since the 2010-11 season, the Mountaineers own a 118-35 record at home inside Quinn Coliseum.
• Under the direction of head coach Chris Kemp, the Mountaineers are 9-3 at home in games played.

Mountaineers vs. the CCC
• All-time, EOU is 262-252 in conference games since the CCC was formed as an NAIA affiliated conference in 1993.
• The Mountaineers have finished with a .500 record or better 16 times in CCC play.
• Eastern has won three CCC Regular Season Championships.
• Under the direction of first year head coach Chris Kemp, EOU is 10-10 in CCC play.

Stat Leaders (As of Feb. 16)
• The Mountaineers are fifth in the CCC in field goal percentage at 46.3%.
• Defensively, EOU gives up just 32.2 rebounds per game which is third best in the league.
• The Mountaineers rebounding margin of +3.7 is fourth highest in the CCC.
• Eastern is fourth in the conference in blocks at 3.0 per game.
• Phillip Malatare is second in the CCC in scoring at 18.6 points per game. He ranks fourth in free throw percentage at 83.5%.
• Malatare also ranks sixth in steals at 1.5 per game and eighth in assists at 3.4 per game.
• Xavier Lovelace ranks fourth in the league in rebounding at 8.4 per game. He is 10th in minutes played at 30.6 per game.
• Ismael Valdez is sixth in the conference in blocks, averaging 1.0 per game.

Scouting the Competition
Multnomah Lions
• The Lions are 13-15 overall and 9-11 in CCC play entering the weekend. They are locked into the CCC Tournament and are currently eighth in the league standings. The team is also 10-3 at home this year.
• MU averages 85,2 points per game on 44.7% shooting. They shoot 34.2% from deep and average 16.8 assists per game. They give up 13.6 turnovers per game.
• The Lions give up 85.3 points per game on 45.3% shooting. They grab 41.8 rebounds per game to go along with 2.9 blocks and 7.5 steals per contest.
• Tyrese Taylor leads the way in scoring and rebounding. He averages 17.6 points per game to go along with 9.7 boards per game. He is second in blocks with 17.
• Terin Johnson is the top shot blocker with 32 and is second in scoring. He scores 15.4 points per game to go along with 5.3 rebounds per contest.
• Neyland Block is second in rebounds at 6.8 per game. He also ranks fourth in scoring at 10.0 points per game. 
• Zach Richardson is the third leading scorer at 13.7 points per game. He ranks second in assists at 72 and averages 2.9 per game.
• Wallace Ungwiluk is the top assist man for MU with 92 on the year and averages 3.3 per game. He also chips in 7.6 points per game.

Warner Pacific Knights
• The Knights are 14-14 overall and 10-10 in CCC action this season. They are 6-4 at home, already secured a spot in the conference tournament, and are currently tied for sixth in the CCC standings.
• WPU averages 77.8 points per game on 44.8% shooting. They shoot 36% from deep and dish out 14.7 assists per game. They only give up 11.7 turnovers per contest.
• Teams average 75.5 points per game against the Knights on 44.9% shooting. WPU grabs 36.4 rebounds per game to go along with 2.7 blocks and 5.8 steals per contest.
• Isaac Etter leads the offense at 13.5 points per game and shoots 42.1%. He also shoots 40/4% from three-point range.
• Tyrese Yussuf-Willis is the leader in assists with 97 for an average of 4.0 per game. He is second in scoring at 11.3 points per game.
• Chritian Hodge is the top rebounder at 6.0 per game. He also has a team best 26 blocks on the year. He chips in 5.8 points per game.
• Thomas Miles is third in scoring averaging 9.0 points per game. He has a team best 29 steals this year.

Up Next
• The Mountaineers will be back in action Wednesday, Feb. 23 in the quarterfinals of the CCC Championships. Game time is set for 7 p.m. local time, with EOU's opponent still to be determined.

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