Eagles host Portland State

Men’s basketball: Eastern Washington is one of the hottest basketball teams in the Big Sky Conference, but the Eagles still need at least two more wins to secure a spot in the league’s postseason tournament.

In tonight’s home game against Portland State, the Eagles (13-13, 8-7) can not only solidify their position in a crowded playoff race, they can move into a tie for third place.

Tipoff is at 6:05 p.m. at Reese Court. Eastern has won five of its last six games.

If anything, the Vikings (12-12, 7-8) need a win even more than Eastern; that also would give PSU a season sweep of the Eagles, thanks to a 92-83 win last month in Portland.

“We played a great first half at their place, and then had an atrocious defensive second half,” Eastern coach Jim Hayford said. “Our players spent a lot of time watching video of that game and learning how to get better.”

Jim Allen

WSU women hit triple digits

Women’s basketball: Tia Presley reached 32 points and Lia Galdeira added 27 in leading Washington State over Oregon 108-88.

The 108 points are the third-most in the history of the program and the 42 field goals made are a school record.

Presley was 13 of 17 from the floor as WSU shot 53 percent. It was the third time in four games that she scored 32 points.

Story, page B5

Home-plate rules revealed today

Baseball: New guidelines regarding home-plate collisions will be out today.

MLB executive vice president Joe Torre made the revelation Sunday after wrapping up a series of meetings to discuss expanded replay with the 15 teams that conduct spring training in Florida.

Torre is optimistic the replay system that debuts this season will function as intended, helping umpires get potential game-changing calls correct while not disrupting the rhythm of play with lengthy delays.

The former New York Yankees manager did not provide specifics about the plate-collision rule except to say baseball wants to curb intentional contact initiated by baserunners. Associated Press