LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon men's basketball team fell in a tightly contested matchup against RV Lewis-Clark State, 78-73, on Saturday evening at Quinn Coliseum.
The Mountaineers put up a strong fight but were unable to overcome the Warriors' efficiency in the paint and second-half composure. Eastern Oregon shot 42.4% from the field while Lewis-Clark State connected on 49.1% of its shots, including 44 points inside.
TJ Doman led the Mounties with a well-rounded performance, posting 15 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists. Malachi Afework added 13 points on 4-of-10 shooting, including three three-pointers. Brennen Newsom was a force inside, contributing 12 points, four rebounds, and two blocks.
The Warriors were led by Alton Hamilton's dominant night, finishing with 19 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists. Gorden Boykins and Dylan Skaife chipped in with 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Lewis-Clark State controlled much of the first half, building a 12-point lead with just over 13 minutes remaining. The Mountaineers fought back, cutting the deficit to single digits before halftime, trailing 39-32.
EOU outscored LCSC 41-39 in the second half and almost completed the comeback, closing the gap to just two points late in the game. However, timely free throws and strong interior defense by the Warriors kept the Mountaineers from overtaking the lead.
Eastern Oregon will look to bounce back on the road next week when they face Multnomah University on February 14. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
