Though small in numbers and big-name stars, the senior class on this year's Eastern Washington University has lead the Eagles to new heights.

You can read Sunday's S-R feature story on the remaining members of EWU's 2006 recruiting class that will play its final game in Friday's NCAA Division I Championship in Frisco, Texas, here.  And you can see the notes on the upcoming title game that were posted by Eastern's sports information department here.

In addition, I've included this link what the Big Sky Conference website has on Friday's FCS playoff finale.

Gonzaga made quick work of Cal State-Bakersfield, leading by 28 at half and 37 early in the second half before settling for a 78-59 victory Tuesday night, sending seniors Matt Bouldin, Chris Pontarolo-Maag and Will Foster out with a victory in their final home game.

Bouldin led the way with 15 points. Foster had six points and ‘P-Maag’ scored his first basket of the season.

Read on for my unedited game story and check back in the morning for a day-after post.

Eastern Washington closed its 2009-10 men’s basketball season with a 79-71 home win over Idaho State Saturday night.  It was a nice way to send off the five seniors on this year’s roster, but it still left the Eagles with 21 losses and looking in from the outside on another Big Sky Conference Tournament.

Read on for more on the game, along with S-R columnist John Blanchette’s take on whether Eastern should retain head coach Kirk Earlywine, who is in the third and final year of the contract he signed took over the program back in June of 2007.

And feel free to leave any thoughts you might have on the direction the Eagles are headed and whether Earlywine should get at least another year to clean up the mess he inherited when he arrived in Cheney.

Back with the day after USC Upstate post. GU hammered the visitors 90-40, but the Spartans did take home $70,000, their second biggest payday of the season (Notre Dame forked out $90,000).

Read on for more.

Gonzaga’s Senior Night celebration is a little different this season. The Zags have a non-conference opponent, South Carolina Upstate, coming in Tuesday. The visitors fill what would have been an eight-day break between Gonzaga’s WCC finale at San Diego and the semifinal contest in the WCC Tournament.

The Zags’ five seniors reflect on their careers below in an unedited version on an article that will run in Monday’s S-R.

Eastern Washington’s men’s basketball team closes regular-season play at home tonight against Big Sky rival Portland State, needing a win to keep its slim post-season hopes alive.

Tonight’s game also marks the final appearance at home for four seniors on EWU’s roster.

You can read the S-R  story on those seniors and how they are approaching Senior Night here, and you can get more details on tonight’s game and what else needs to transpire for the Eagles to play on into the postseason here.

In addition, I’ve included these game notes supplied by PSU’s sports information department.