Eastern bounces back with big win on Senior Night

Eastern Washington followed its worst half of the basketball season with its best and turned that into an 87-53 Senior Night statement win over Montana State at Reese Court on Saturday.

After getting drilled by Montana on Thursday – outscored 48-20 in the second half – the Eagles pounded the Bobcats from the start, opening a 10-point lead just 5 minutes into the game and making it 20 by halftime.

“I talked to the guys before the game about how actions speak louder than words,” Eagles coach Mike Burns said. “We talked about how we felt about Deuce Smith in the team room, but their actions during the game really showed how they feel about their captain.”

The Eagles (13-14, 8-5) showed it by shooting 56.5 percent while holding the Bobcats (14-14, 6-7) to 41.5 percent, dominating the boards 38-23, dishing off 19 assists and grabbing nine steals while committing just six turnovers.

“I just felt good about the whole deal,” said Smith, an Oakland, Calif., native who arrived at Eastern via Tyler Junior College in Texas. “Coming here has been a long road and we’ve still got four games to get where we want to be. But for me, the coaches, the students, the people keeping stats, the radio guy, everybody showed me so much love and support since I got here. I wanted to go out and show my love for the guys.”

He did with 19 points, a season high, and six rebounds, two assists and two steals. It was obvious from the start the Eagles were determined to give their lone senior a proper sendoff. Freshman sensation Rodney Stuckey stole the ball on the opening possession and went coast-to-coast for a dunk. He followed with another steal for a Matt Penoncello layup and the Eagles never trailed.

“It seems like there is always energy on Senior Night but it was a special one today because Deuce is the guy,” Stuckey said. “He’s always giving us energy and we had to bring the energy and get the win for him.”

The game was much more than just a parting gift for Smith.

Stuckey rebounded from a rare average outing with his usual stellar game, setting the school single-season scoring record on his way to a 26-point night on 10-of-15 shooting, including 5 of 8 3-pointers, five assists, four rebounds and three steals.

There was an energized bench, highlighted by Jake Beitinger in the first half and crowd favorite Henry Bekkering in the second, who combined for 17 points and 10 rebounds, including a game-high seven from Beitinger.

And finally it was a pumped up student-led crowd of 2,952 that didn’t give up on the Eagles after the Thursday debacle.

It all added up to Eastern clinching third-place in the Big Sky and a first-round home game next Saturday. The opponent will be Portland State if the Eagles close the regular season with a win at Idaho State on Monday. If the Eagles lose, they will play Idaho State again.

Stuckey, who needed 19 points to pass the 626 points David Peed scored as a junior in 1988-89, drained three quick 3-pointers for a 25-12 lead at the 12:55 mark. Smith took over with nine points in a 12-3 run over the last 5½ minutes.

The lead stayed around 20 for the first 10 minutes of the second half but the Eagles took flight again after Stuckey scored on a leaner in the lane at the 9:26 mark to move past Peed.

Al Beye, a 6-foot-11 senior from Senegal, led the Bobcats with 13 points.

Eastern Washington 87, Montana St. 53

Montana State (14-14, 6-7)—Dissly 4-8 1-1 9, Moss 1-4 0-0 2, Beye 6-10 1-2 13, Durham 3-6 0-1 7, Edmonds 3-8 1-2 8, Wilson 2-8 0-0 5, Durr 1-4 0-0 3, Pratt 0-0 0-0 0, Morris 2-5 2-3 6. Totals 22-53 5-9 53.

Eastern Washington (13-14, 8-5)—Penoncello 3-5 1-1 7, Risper 2-4 1-2 5, Butorac 4-5 2-3 11, Stuckey 10-15 1-2 26, Smith 7-13 2-2 19, Bekkering 4-4 1-2 9, Humphrey 0-0 0-0 0, Zumwalt 1-3 0-0 2, Bright 0-0 0-2 0, Beitinger 4-9 0-0 8, Williams 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 35-62 8-14 87.

Halftime—Eastern Washington 43, Montana State 23. 3-point goals—Montana State 4-14 (Durham 1-3, Wilson 1-3, Edmonds 1-3, Durr 1-4, Dissly 0-1), Eastern Washington 9-17 (Stuckey 5-8, Smith 3-6, Butorac 1-1, Penoncello 0-1, Zumwalt 0-1). Fouled out—None. Rebounds—Montana State 23 (Beye, Dissly 6), Eastern Washington 38 (Beitinger 7). Assists—Montana State 11 (Durham 4), Eastern Washington 19 (Stuckey 5). Total fouls—Montana State 10, Eastern Washington 15. A—2,952.