Today’S Best Bets

Thu., Feb. 4, 1999

Men’s basketball

Portland State at Eastern Washington

Time, site: 7:05 p.m., Reese Court

Radio: KKPL 630

Summary: Eastern gets a quick shot at revenge following last Saturday’s 76-60 road loss to the Vikings, in which the Eagles fell behind by 27 points in the opening 14 minutes of the game.

The rematch should be much more interesting, considering coach Steve Aggers’ young team (7-12, 4-5 Big Sky Conference) usually plays good teams tough at home. PSU (14-5, 7-2) certainly qualifies as good. The Vikings boast one of the league’s most versatile players in senior forward Jason Hartman, who ranks second in the Sky in scoring (21.5 ppg). EWU leads Idaho State (4-16, 2-8) by two games in the battle for the sixth and final berth in the conference tournament.

Iona at Idaho

Time, site: 9 p.m., Kibbie Dome

TV/radio: TV, ESPN; Radio, KVNI (AM 1080) Coeur d’Alene, KHTR (104.3 FM) Pullman-Moscow.

Summary: The sizzling Vandals face a physical non-conference foe. Iona (11-10) has beef and uses it. Kashif Hameed, Tariq Kirksay, Phil Grant and Ivo Kresta are the Gaels’ top four scorers, and the shortest of the bunch is Kirksay at 6-6. Hameed is 6-8, 230.

Idaho will try to defend the interior with a combination of Kevin Byrne, Kaniel Dickens and Mao Tosi. The Vandals have won six of seven, the lone loss a one-pointer on a foul call with no time left. UI also has been tough on ESPN, whipping Cal Poly this season and downing SW Missouri State in OT last season.

Dixie at North Idaho

Time, site: 7:30 p.m., Christianson Gym

Radio: None.

Summary: No. 16-ranked Dixie (19-4 overall) is second in the Scenic West Athletic Conference at 9-2. The Rebels are stocked with fine athletes and five players average in double figures, led by Maurice Baker’s 14e6 points.

The Rebels average 13 steals per game, topped by Khalid Coursey’s SWAC-leading 3.5. Rudy Williams, a 6-foot-9 center, routinely posts double-doubles in scoring and rebounding.

NIC (8-11, 3-8) probably needs a couple more wins to stave off Eastern Utah (8-15, 2-9) for the eighth - and last - spot in the Region 18 Tournament. Johnny Goodman is second in the league in scoring at 19.3 points.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Today’S Best Bets

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

Updated: Mead boys wrap dominant District 6 4A/3A meet with team title: 'We're coming for state'

Former Gonzaga standout Chet Holmgren named to NBA's All-Defensive First Team

Updated: Mitch Garver’s homer sends Mariners past Royals