Coming up: Eastern Washington Eagles

COMING UP: Saturday vs. Sam Houston State, 1:05 p.m.

OUTLOOK: Coming off an 89-80 loss at Portland State, the Eagles get a conference breather. Sam Houston State (14-11) will try to duplicate the Bearkats’ FCS football win over the Eagles in Saturday’s BracketBuster game. What really matters for Eastern are the two home games that follow – Feb. 28 vs. Northern Colorado and March 2 vs. North Dakota – games that will likely decide the Eagles’ postseason fate. Eastern’s leading scorer and rebounder, Venky Jois, appears almost fully healed from an ankle injury, but senior point guard Kevin Winford is out this week and perhaps longer with a compartment syndrome injury.

@SRJimAllen