College Basketball Tonight

Gonzaga at E. Washington

The Bulldogs (7-3) visit Reese Court for a 7:05 p.m. non-conference game against the Eagles (2-8).

After a 93-59 victory over NAIA Whitman, Eastern Washington faces a far more difficult challenge when West Coast Conference power Gonzaga visits. GU handled EWU 68-55 on Dec. 22, playing outstanding defense while connecting enough from the outside to soften the Eagles’ zone defense. “Our players are anxious to play them again,” first-year EWU coach Steve Aggers said. “We have a lot of respect for their program. We hope that it can become a rivalry - but in order to have a good cross-town rivalry, both teams have to win a little bit. We have to change that.” GU has won nine straight vs. EWU and leads the series 36-9. … Tonight’s best individual matchup figures to involve GU sharpshooter Jon Kinloch (13.7 ppg, 22-52 3-pointers) and EWU off-guard D’mitri Rideout (14.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.89 spg). … Eagles center Adam Dean injured his back in practice this week but is expected to start, Aggers said. … GU beat Boise St. 83-68 on Wednesday to start a stretch in which the Bulldogs play five games in nine days.

Gonzaga: Paul Rogers, 15.7 ppg; Scott Snider, 8.6 rpg; Kyle Dixon, 5.7 apg. EWU: D’mitri Rideout, 14.3 ppg; Adam Dean, 6.1 rpg; Travis King, 2.3 apg.

Radio: KJRB (790 AM) in Spokane with Dick Wright, 15 minutes before tipoff; and KSBN (1230 AM) in Spokane with Larry Weir in Spokane, 25 minutes before tipoff.

, DataTimes