Stories by Jim Allen for the Spokesman-Review

Sports > EWU basketball

Eastern Washington men exude confidence in improved Big Sky Conference

Wed., Dec. 27, 2017

Eastern Washington took some lumps during the nonconference men’s basketball season. Now the Eagles hope to inflict a few on their Big Sky Conference brethren.

Sports > WSU football

Linebacker Joe Bachie leads tough Michigan State defense

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 28, 2017

Joe Bachie is a special player. Special enough to be the first sophomore in 13 years to be named Michigan State’s Most Valuable player and the first in 11 years under coach Mark Dantonio.

Sports > Gonzaga women

WCC women’s preview: Gonzaga still the top dog entering league play

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 26, 2017

Eleven games into the season, so much has changed for the Gonzaga women – and so little.

News > Spokane

At Gonzaga, Emma Moon guides student-athletes toward their highest potential

Tue., Dec. 26, 2017

On any given day, 27-year-old Emma Moon is a counselor, confidante or cheerleader for more than 300 student-athletes. She’s paying it forward every day.

Sports > WSU football

Michigan State offense will be led by inconsistent first-year QB Brian Lewerke in Holiday Bowl

Sun., Dec. 24, 2017

How unthinkable is this? Luke Falk – the all-time passing leader in Pac-12 history – could be the “other quarterback” in the Holiday Bowl against Michigan State.

Sports > WSU football

Success after success, Michigan State still wears chip on shoulder

Sat., Dec. 23, 2017

For Washington State fans who wear that underdog mentality against the Huskies like a badge of honor, you’ve just met your match.

Sports > Area sports

Eastern Washington cross country coach Chris Shane leaves program

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 22, 2017

Eastern Washington no longer has a cross country coach following the abrupt departure of Chris Shane earlier this week.

Sports > Gonzaga women

Gonzaga women get tough against Leathernecks, win 80-65

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 21, 2017

Basically, the Gonzaga women had a great game Thursday night. The Bulldogs beat Western Illinois, 80-65, the old-fashioned way; they hit the short jumper, crashed the boards and got to the line.

Sports > EWU basketball

Eastern Washington men clamp down on NAIA Providence before holiday break

Wed., Dec. 20, 2017

For Eastern Washington coach Shantay Legans, this really was the best of both worlds.

Sports > Gonzaga women

Gonzaga women ‘excited’ as upset-pulling Western Illinois visits The Kennel

Wed., Dec. 20, 2017

Western Illinois knocked off 18th-ranked Stanford for the program’s first win over a ranked team. It also was the biggest win in school history for the Leathernecks, whose next game is Thursday night at Gonzaga.

Sports > EWU football

Eastern Washington football adds eight players in early signing period

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 20, 2017

This could turn out to be signature recruiting class for Eastern Washington football. All the Eagles need are a few more signatures.

Sports

Wheaton hands seventh-ranked Whitworth men their first setback of season

Tue., Dec. 19, 2017

In the end, Whitworth simply ran out of answers Tuesday night.

Sports > EWU basketball

Eastern Washington men vow not to look past NAIA Providence

Tue., Dec. 19, 2017

Eastern Washington men’s basketball coach Shantay Legans is taking nothing for granted.

Sports > WSU football

First look: Michigan State’s youngsters led to big turnaround from 2016

Tue., Dec. 19, 2017

The food was better at this year’s Michigan State football banquet. So was the morale.

Sports

Whitworth’s foe anything but a blast from past

Mon., Dec. 18, 2017

Whitworth has a bit of history with Wheaton College, and the Pirates hope history doesn’t repeat itself Tuesday night at the Fieldhouse. Ten years ago, Whitworth reached its first Division III Sweet 16 under former coach Jim Hayford. They went no further, partly because national player of the year Kent Raymond went off for 47 points.

Sports > EWU basketball

Bogdan Bliznyuk’s near triple-double leads Eastern Washington’s rout of CSUN

UPDATED: Sun., Dec. 17, 2017

Bogdan Bliznyuk scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Eastern Washington returned home for the first time since Nov. 10 to snap a five-game losing streak with an 86-58 victory over Cal State Northridge on Sunday in Cheney.

Sports > EWU football

Former Eastern Washington star Cooper Kupp returns to home state wearing uniform of the enemy

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 15, 2017

One year to the day after his last game at Eastern Washington, Cooper Kupp will be back in his home state, playing against the team he rooted for as a child. This will be the ultimate homecoming for Kupp, but don’t expect a parade on Sunday at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.

Sports > EWU basketball

Eastern Washington men finally return home after rugged road schedule

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 15, 2017

After five weeks and 10 games on the road, Eastern Washington coach Shantay Legans tried his best to find some humor in the situation.

Sports > EWU football

Mt. Spokane’s Risone Ama eager to sign with Eastern Washington football

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 15, 2017

For Risone Ama and the Eastern Washington football program, the NCAA’s new early signing period is the best of both worlds. Ama, a standout offensive lineman at Mt. Spokane High School, plans to sign a national letter of intent next week with the Eagles and enjoy the rest of his senior year.

Sports > Gonzaga women

A New Hope: Neighbors Jill Townsend, Chandler Smith provide needed boost for Gonzaga

Fri., Dec. 15, 2017

How whimsical was that scene last weekend at the McCarthey Athletic Center?

Sports > EWU basketball

Eastern Washington’s long road trip finishes up at Wyoming

Mon., Dec. 11, 2017

The odyssey is almost over. Tuesday night’s game at Wyoming will be the final stop for Eastern Washington in a 10-game, 36-day road trip that began on Veterans Day.

Sports > Gonzaga women

Gonzaga women can’t overcome final challenge in tough loss to UNLV

Sat., Dec. 9, 2017

Just in time, it’s finals week at Gonzaga. That should give the Bulldogs women a few days to focus on something besides Saturday’s 52-50 home loss to UNLV, which was a painful exercise in every sense of the word.