Wiley leads EWU past St. Martin’s in exhibition

Jacob Wiley wasted no time in making an impression at Reese Court.

Well, perhaps 10 minutes. That’s all the Eastern Washington graduate student needed to “get the butterflies out” and get down to the business of winning basketball games.

In Sunday’s season-opening exhibition against stubborn Saint Martin’s, the transfer from Lewis-Clark State put up game highs of 25 points and 14 points to lead the Eagles to an 80-69 win.

Wiley, a 6-foot-7 forward and the heir apparent to career scoring leader Venky Jois, got those points on 8-for-9 shooting from the field while also blocking four shots.

However, the Division II Saints from Lacey, Washington, stayed in the game by taking a page from Eastern’s book, shooting 37 3-pointers and making 32 percent of them.

The Eagles led by as many as 13, but Hayford went to his bench early and the Saints were down by just 37-33 at halftime.

“We built a good lead early in the first half. I may have over-substituted, but it made it a better game for everybody,” Hayford said. Give Saint Martin’s credit – they competed and they are a well-coached team.”

Early in the second half, the lead was down to 37-35 after a dunk for former Eagle Fred Jörg. Saint Martin’s, coached by former EWU assistant Alex Pribble, had several chances to tie or take the lead, but they misfired on a trio of 3-pointers.

That’s when Wiley and junior forward Bogdan Bliznyuk (17 points, 11 rebounds) rose to the occasion, scoring seven of the Eagles’ next nine points.

The lead was again down to two with 12:55 left, but Felix Von Hofe drained a 3 to push the lead to five, and it only grew from there.

“We were able to get some separation and hang on to that,” Hayford said. We played really good defense, but we will shoot the ball better than we did today (24 of 53 from the field and 5 of 18 from long range).

“We took care of the ball, rebounded well and played good defense. When you put on your uniform you want to win, and we did do that,” Hayford said

Eastern’s opens the regular seeason Nov. 11 at home against Division III Linfield. Tipoff is at noon.

Sunday’s game also was a welcome home for official Dick Cartmell, who in August was named the Naismith Men’s College Official of the Year.

Cartmell began his 32-year college officiating career in 1984 with the Big Sky Conference and has worked in 24 NCAA Tournaments, including five Final Fours.