Eagles Find Way, Win 15th Taylor Plays The Starring Role As Ewu Earns Road Win In Ot

Shannon Taylor scored 33 points and put in the go-ahead basket in the final moment of overtime Wednesday night as Eastern Washington University edged Idaho State 97-95 in Big Sky Conference basketball.

The victory allowed the resurgent Eagles, enjoying their best season this decade, to remain in the hunt for the third seed in the Big Sky tournament. EWU has been successful in six of its last seven starts.

EWU concludes the conference season Friday night, meeting Portland State at Cheney. If the Eagles win the regionally televised game and Montana defeats Montana State, currently third, at Missoula, EWU will claim the third seed.

Although Wednesday’s game was not always an artistic success, Eastern coach Steve Aggers was pleased to head home with a road victory.

“We kept telling our guys to keep working and stay focused and that we would find a way. And obviously we did,” he said. “For whatever reason, this team just thinks they can find a way to win. They’re gaining confidence, and hopefully we can continue that string.”

Idaho State’s Odell Stokes sent the game into overtime with a slam dunk 27 seconds before time expired.

The Bengals (6-19, 2-13) led for the first 4 minutes of the 5-minute overtime. However, Taylor’s jump shot put the visiting Eagles (15-10, 9-6) ahead 94-93.

After Tywan Meadows hit a running jump shot to put Idaho State back on top, Eastern’s Deon Williams sank three free throws to conclude the scoring.

Idaho State led 36-27 at halftime and 48-36 with 16:44 left in the game. Eastern Washington closed the gap to 59-58 by hitting three consecutive 3-point baskets with 9:50 to play.

Michael Lewis, who scored 16 points for EWU, sank a 3-pointer that tied the score at 75.

Idaho State’s Johnny Mitchell nearly matched Taylor, who averages 13.2 points per game, by scoring a career-high 31 points. Meadows, the Big Sky leader, finished with 21.

Taylor scored 27 of his points after halftime. With four 3-pointers, he ran his total to 64, second to Justin Paola’s 1991 school record of 77.

Eastern’s point total was its greatest in 128 games dating back to the 1993-94 season opener against Northwest College.

Eastern 97, Idaho St. 95 (OT)

E. Washington (15-10) - Scott 7-17 3-6 18, Williams 7-13 4-6 18, M. Lewis 4-9 4-4 16, Berger 2-8 0-0 4, K. Lewis 2-4 0-2 4, Taylor 12-21 5-6 33, Sims 1-2 0-0 2, Humbert 1-3 0-0 2, McGee 0-1 0-0 0, White 0-1 0-1 0, Claus 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 36-79 16-25 97.

Idaho State (6-19) - Mitchell 10-16 11-12 31, Meadows 8-19 2-3 21, Stokes 8-11 2-8 18, Skinner 2-5 1-3 6, Culbreath 1-8 1-2 3, Vaughan 2-4 0-0 6, Junger 1-1 3-4 5, Robinson 1-4 1-2 3, Sukut 0-0 2-2 2, Bell 0-1 0-2 0. Totals 33-69 23-38 95.

Halftime-ISU 36, EWU 27. 3-Point goals-EWU 9-22 (M. Lewis 4-5, Taylor 4-12, Scott 1-2, McGee 0-1, Williams 0-2), ISU 6-19 (Meadows 3-9, Vaughan 2-4, Skinner 1-4, Culbreath 0-2). Fouled out-K. Lewis. Rebounds-EWU 47 (Scott 10), ISU 48 (Mitchell, Stokes 12). Assists-EWU 16 (Williams 6), ISU 18 (Skinner 7). Total fouls-EWU 28, ISU 22. A-1,287.

N. Arizona 64, CS Northridge 61

Andrew Mavis scored 17 points to lead the visiting Lumberjacks (18-7, 12-3 Big Sky) to their victory over the Matadors (10-15, 6-9), edging NAU one game closer to the Big Sky Conference title and the top seed in the conference tournament.

Northern Arizona leads Weber State by one game with one to play in the regular season.

Weber St. 61, Portland St. 51

Reserve guard Marc Lawson had 15 points, all in the second half, and teammates Alex Fisher and Eric Ketcham added 12 and 11 points, respectively, to lead the Wildcats (13-12, 11-4) past the Vikings (15-11, 10-5 Big Sky) at Ogden, Utah.

, DataTimes