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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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A week of drama awaits Eastern fans

Will he or won't he? I'm talking about Eastern point guard Tyler Harvey, who may or may not play in Thursday's Big sky Conference showdown game against Sacramento State, a game that will go far in deciding who will host the Sky's postseason tournament.

What, did you think I was talking about someone else? This is basketball season, after all.

Harvey, the national scoring leader, missed the Eagles' road trip to Montana with a bruised right quadricep, and Eastern still came away with two wins, including their first win in Missoula in 11 years. Imagine that: one of the biggest wins in recent history, fashioned without one of the most dynamic players to wear an Eastern uniform. Two days later, the Eagles gutted out another win, at Montana State, for their first conference road sweep since 2004.

Which reminds me of the Eastern football team, which managed to win three out of four games last fall without the services of Vernon Adams Jr., the same guy who's expected to announce today whether he'll finish his collegiate career in Cheney or someplace else (and not necessarily at Oregon).

Don't get me wrong: Adams is a special player, a two-time All-America who's helped the Eagles to three straight Big Sky titles while playing some of the most exciting football I've ever seen. But Adams doesn't define Eastern football, which won a national title before Adams arrived and should remain an elite FCS program after he leaves - whenever that is.

In the meantime, there's a pretty big basketball game to be played Thursday at Reese Court. See you there. 

 



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