Eagles rout ISU

It started and ended with the seniors, but in between it was a night for every Eagle.

Four Eastern Washington basketball players, in their final appearance at Reese Court, provided the energy that led the Eagles to a 77-35 romp over Idaho State on Saturday night.

The Eagles matched the school record with 15 3-pointers and the 35 points allowed was the fewest in 592 games as a Division I school.

“It was the four seniors, it their last night,” said junior Deuce Smith, who had a breakout game with 24 points, five rebounds and three blocks. “Personally for me it was the last time I was going to walk out here with these guys. I wanted them to go out with the bang. I wanted them to remember me and their last game on this court.”

They certainly will.

With Smith, a 6-foot-3 guard, leading the way, the Eagles dominated every aspect of the game.

It started with the 15 3’s by six different players, on 32 attempts. Eastern shot 53 percent overall, held ISU to 25 percent shooting and had a 38-21 edge in rebounding.

E. Washington 77, Idaho St. 35

Idaho State (9-17, 3-10)–Kinghorn 3-14 1-2 7, Stevens 1-4 4-4 6, Smith 0-4 0-0 0, Lewis 0-3 1-2 1, Gardner 1-1 2-2 4, Hardy 2-7 4-6 8, Rede 0-2 1-2 1, D’Amore 2-2 0-0 4, Rhodes 0-2 0-2 0, Millien 1-1 2-2 4. Totals 10-40 15-22 35.

Eastern Washington (8-17, 5-7)–Axton 4-13 0-0 11, Nicholas 2-3 0-1 4, McCulloch 2-3 1-2 5, Pariseau 4-5 0-0 10, Wortham 0-1 0-0 0, Scheffler 2-5 0-0 6, Henkel 2-2 0-0 6, Butorac 0-0 0-0 0, Smith 7-10 8-10 26, Bekkering 0-0 0-0 0, Nelson 1-2 0-1 2, Loe 1-1 1-2, 4, Beitinger 1-4 0-0 3. Totals 26-49 10-16 77.

Halftime–EWU 36, ISU 19. 3-point goals–ISU 0-3 , EWU 15-32 (Smith 4-7, Axton 3-11, Pariseau 2-2, Henkel 2-2, Scheffler 2-5, Loe 1-1, Beitinger 1-3, Wortham 0-1). Fouled out–none. Rebounds–ISU 21 (Kinghorn 5), EWU 38 (Nicholas 6). Assists–ISU 2 (Kinghorn, Rhodes 1), EWU 19 (Axton, Pariseau 4). Total fouls–ISU 21, EWU 19. A–2,311.