Taylor’s 24 Points Lead Eagles Past Psu

Shannon Taylor scored 24 points as surging Eastern Washington beat Portland St. 93-86 in Big Sky Conference basketball Friday.

Eastern Washington (16-10, 10-6) has won seven of its past eight games heading into next week’s conference tournament at Northern Arizona. It is the first time in eight years the Eagles have qualified for postseason play.

The lead changed hands repeatedly as Portland State (15-12, 10-6) benefited from 11 of 20 three-point shooting.

Eastern’s Deon Williams sank a 3-pointer with 2:50 left to tie the score at 82. Then Williams added a short jumper to lift the Eagles to an 84-82 lead they never relinquished.

The game was played before 3,048 fans, Eastern’s largest crowd since 1993.

The Eagles won the rebound battle 48-24.

Brian Towne led Portland State with 24 points, including five of seven from 3-point range. Jason Hartman had 18 points for the Vikings.

It was Portland State’s final game of the season. The Vikings are not eligible for the Big Sky tournament because they are in the final year of a two-year NCAA compliance period after moving up from Division II.

Williams and Karim Scott finished with 14 points each for Eastern.