Gutty Performance Gives Bsu Healthy Margin Broncos Guard, Feeling Ill, Still Victimizes Eastern Washington With 20 First-Half Points In 76-56 Win

Sherman Morris burned Eastern Washington for 20 first-half points Friday night, then took a seat on the bench for the first few minutes of the second half. Someone said the Boise State guard was feeling ill.

He could’ve just been lonely.

Morris found himself alone when Eastern double-teamed 7-footer John Coker inside, and his two first-half 3-pointers helped spark the Broncos to a 76-56 victory in a Big Sky Conference men’s basketball opener at Reese Court.

“It was some food I ate earlier,” said Morris, who finished with 22 points on 10-for-17 shooting. “Right before the second half I got real queasy, so I had to come out.”

Luckily for the Broncos, Morris was contagious, his hot shooting quickly spreading to Coker and J.D. Huleen. The center and forward combined to make 9 of 11 field goals after intermission as Boise State stretched a 47-27 halftime lead to 61-35 with 11:39 to play.

It was more than EWU coach John Wade cared to stomach. “We just played scared,” Wade said. “We’ve gotta play harder than that - be more physical, more aggressive.”

The Eagles were too often passive on defense, committing just 11 fouls despite having to play catchup, and shot 40 percent from the field in dropping their 22nd straight conference game.

Wade called Curtis Porter an exception, and for good reason - the 6-foot-3 shooting guard was exceptional. The lefty from Richmond, Calif., hit 10 field goals, including five of the off-balance, playground variety, and matched Morris with 22 points.

“I don’t know - I just shoot it, hope it goes in,” Porter said. “There’s no skill to it.”

Porter has become the Eagles’ top threat on offense, moving into the starting lineup at the expense of junior transfer D’mitri Rideout. Porter’s quickness and ability to pull up off the dribble make him a difficult matchup.

While Porter gave the BSU guards trouble, Coker hurt Eastern inside. The senior center scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Broncos, scoring mostly on putbacks as four NBA scouts critiqued the prospect from a table set up near the Broncos’ bench.

“We pride ourselves on defense all year long,” said Coker, who blocked five shots. “We like to put pressure on the ball.”

The pressure worked early, Morris scoring twice on transition layups and Huleen following an EWU turnover with a putback as the Broncos took a 16-4 lead with 14:35 left in the half.

Porter rescued the Eagles briefly, scoring eight points the next 9 minutes as Eastern pulled within 32-23. He capped the run with two remarkable jumpers, each near the foul line with his body facing the right bleachers.

But Boise State never lost control, stretching its lead to 59-35 with 12:25 left in the game, then enduring a 4-minute scoreless span that let Eastern get within 61-46. Coker’s jump hook from the right block ended the streak with 7:40 to play, although Eastern would pull within 65-51 thanks to Porter, who followed Coker’s hook with a three-point play, then answered a Mark Dille layup with a 16-footer at the 6:07 mark.

The Broncos quickly killed Eastern’s run with nine straight points, including two turnaround jumpers by Huleen, a sophomore from Redmond (Wash.) High.

“I thought J.D. did a terrific job for us,” Broncos coach Bobby Dye said.

EWU continues a four-game homestand tonight at 7:05, when Idaho State visits. The Bengals won at Idaho 69-59 on Friday.

Boise St. 76, E. Washington 56 BOISE STATE (10-2)

Morris 10-17 0-0 22, Rodman 1-2 0-0 2, Coker 8-12 3-3 19, Archibald 4-11 1-3 10, Woods 2-6 0-0 6, Barnes 0-0 0-0 0, Folsom 0-1 0-0 0, Dille 2-2 0-0 4, Sherrill 0-4 0-0 0, Huleen 6-7 0-0 12, Tharp 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 33-62 5-8 76.

EASTERN WASHINGTON (3-8)

Groves 3-6 2-2 8, J.Lewis 4-13 2-4 12, M.Lewis 2-5 1-2 5, Crider 2-5 0-0 5, Porter 10-17 1-1 22, Rideout 1-3 0-0 2, Richardson 0-0 0-0 0, Egan 0-0 0-0 0, Dean 1-4 0-0 2, Thompson 0-0 0-0 0, Stinnett 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 23-57 6-9 56.

Halftime-Boise St. 47, E. Washington 27. 3-Point goals-Boise St. 5-11 (Morris 2-5, Archibald 1-3, Woods 2-2, Folsom 0-1), E. Washington 4-10 (J.Lewis 2-4, Crider 1-4, Porter 1-1, Rideout 0-1). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Boise St. 34 (Morris, Coker, Huleen 8), E. Washington 32 (M.Lewis 7). Assists-Boise St. 21 (Morris 7), E. Washington 18 (Crider 7). Total fouls-Boise St. 14, E. Washington 11. Technicals-E. Washington, J.Lewis. A-1,564.