LEWISTON, Idaho - In their second consecutive encounter against a top-ranked opponent, the Eastern Oregon Men's Basketball was narrowly outscored 104-98 by No. 3 Arizona Christian in overtime.
The Mountaineers claimed a 49-41 lead entering halftime, thanks to an offensive explosion from
Garrett Hawkes. The sophomore shot 8-9 from the field, scoring 20 points in eight minutes of first half action.
EOU held onto their lead for the majority of the second half, yet ACU orchestrated a late comeback and tied the game at 93-93 to end regulation. The equalizing points were delivered through consecutive contested three-pointers by Trent Hudgens and Dennis Flowers III. Arizona Christian carried their momentum into overtime, rallying to secure the 104-98 victory.
The Mountaineers shot 45.7% from the field, 37.0% from beyond the arc, and 82.8% from the free-throw line.
Garrett Hawkes emerged as a standout performer for the Mountaineers, scoring an impressive 38 points on 14-21 shooting from the field.
Malachi Afework matched his season average, contributing 19 points and knocking down nine free throws. Freshman big man
Kamal Muhammad showcased a double-double performance with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Trent Hudgens led the scoring charge for the Firestorm with 25 points, while Dennis Flowers III recorded 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. Anthony Howell also made a significant impact off the bench, delivering a perfect 9-for-9 shooting performance and securing 8 rebounds.
EOU will travel back north to Spokane, Washington for next Tuesday's matchup with Gonzaga University, set to tip-off at 6:00 p.m.
