DeLeon delights Eagles

There were probably some who figured any major makeovers of Eastern Washington University’s men’s basketball record book were a thing of the past, what with Rodney Stuckey having taken his considerable talents to the NBA.

But those who did were dead wrong.

They can blame Adris DeLeon for proving them such.

DeLeon, a first-year junior transfer, erupted for a career-high 42 points at Reese Court Thursday night, leading the Eagles to a 91-85 overtime win over Big Sky Conference rival Northern Colorado and sending most of those in a crowd of 1,573 home delighted.

DeLeon’s point total, which was fashioned on 14-for-28 shooting from the floor, was the third-highest in school history and left the quick-footed guard from New York City behind only Stuckey (45), a current member of the Detroit Pistons, and David Peed (44) on the Eagles’ single-game scoring list.

“That was a lot of fun,” DeLeon said after fueling a much-needed win for the Eagles (8-12, 3-3 Big Sky), who were playing in front of a student-based crowd for the first time since late November. “I was just out there playing basketball.”

Even Eagles coach Kirk Earlywine marveled at DeLeon’s production.

“I didn’t even realize he had 42,” Earlywine said. “He’s getting better and better, and our guys are learning how to play with him. But obviously, 42 points – that was the difference in the game.”

DeLeon, who played last season at College of Southern Idaho, also played 42 minutes in the game as Earlywine stayed primarily with the same five players who started the second half. Four of those five responded by scoring all but two of Eastern’s points.

Senior forward Kellen Williams, who played all 45 minutes, finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds to post his eighth double-double of the season. Sophomore center Brandon Moore added 14 points and nine rebounds.

Junior guard Milan Stanojevic, despite some first-half shooting woes, finished with 12 points and hit the 3-pointer near the end of regulation that tied the game at 71 and forced the overtime period.

Stanojevic, who made only one of the seven shots he had taken prior to his game-tying 3 from the right corner, then knocked down two more long-range jumpers early in the extra period to put UNC (8-9, 2-3) on its heels for good.

“My shot didn’t go in early,” said the Serbian-born shooting guard, “but Coach told me to keep shooting if you’re open – just don’t shoot those bad shots. I took a bad one early in the second half, but when it was time to make them, I did.”

Earlywine said he didn’t say much to Stanojevic about his shooting problems.

“When you’re a shooter, you have to have a short memory,” he said, “and (Milan) does. I thought he took a couple of bad ones in the first half, but I give him, Kellen and Adris some latitude on offense, because we need those guys to make baskets for us to win.”

DeLeon took a few wild shots of his own, but still managed to dazzle with a terrific assortment of moves off high-ball screens – many of which resulted in acrobatic drives and spectacular off-balance finishes at the rim. In addition, he dished out three assists and made only one turnover from his point guard position.

“He’s capable of taking over the game like that on any night,” Moore said of DeLeon, “especially when he limits his number of turnovers. He only had one tonight.”

Northern Colorado, which came in after having defeated San Diego State in a non-conference road game on Jan. 9, got 18 point from freshman guard Devon Beitzel and 17 from senior guard Thanasi Panagiotakopoulos.

The Bears led by as many as seven points during the second half but were outscored 28-12 the rest of the way.

Eastern will be back in action Thursday when they travel to Missoula to take on Montana in another Big Sky matchup.