EWU sets team shooting record during rout of Wolves

It doesn’t get any easier than this.

Certainly it won’t this year for the Eastern Washington basketball team, which rolled past Walla Walla University 95-34 on Wednesday night at Reese Court.

How easy was it?

For starters, there were some new ones, including center Frederick Jörg, forward Felix Von Hofe and guard Sir Washington. Against a winless NAIA team, it didn’t matter that some of the usual suspects played sparingly or not at all.

By halftime, the Eagles led 53-19 while shooting 74 percent from the field and outrebounding the Wolves 19-7. By the time it was over, Eastern set a school record by hitting 37 of 51 shots, or 72.5 percent.

“That’s because we showed discipline on every possession, ignoring the score, and had good shot selection and good patience,” said Eastern coach Jim Hayford, whose team improved to 3-0.

There were more eye-popping statistics, including 25 assists by game’s end, eight blocks and a final 37-12 disparity on the boards.

In the paint, Eastern outscored Walla Walla 54-6, thanks in part to some quality minutes for Jörg, a 7-foot-1 sophomore from Germany who redshirted last year. Jörg hit 8 of 9 shots to finish with 18 points, eight rebounds and five blocks – all game highs – and some needed experience.

“After not playing last year, these kinds of games are perfect for me, because you get a routine,” said Jörg, who logged 26 minutes.

“Big Fred is going to be a great player and he has a great career ahead of him. … I think it was good experience for him to have a night like this where he can go play as much as he can play, stamina-wise,” Hayford said.

Regular starters Drew Brandon, Parker Kelly and Ogjnen Miljkovic didn’t see action – a coach’s decision, Hayford said – but guard Tyler Harvey and forward Venky Jois each saw 20 minutes-plus of action and both were perfect from the field.

Harvey was perfect on six shots, including four from long range, to finish with 16 points. Jois scored 17, hit all seven attempts and dished out a team-high seven assists.

The Eagles have won their three games this season by a combined 109 points. Eastern opened the season with wins over Division I teams Texas Southern (86-62) and Utah Valley (75-50).

Next up is the Eagles’ toughest road trip of the season, beginning Saturday at 22nd-ranked Southern Methodist. Two days later, they’ll play at Indiana, which plays in a 17,000-seat arena that Hayford compared with the Colosseum in Rome.

“That will only mature us as we go and play in that kind of a venue,” Hayford said.

Walla Walla University (0-7)—Hough 1-6 1-4 3, Inman 1-2 1-2 3, Luckett 3-10 2-2 11, Collins 1-5 0-0 3, L. Spady 3-5 2-2 10, J. Spady 0-4 1-2 1, Osias 0-7 0-0 0, Woodworth 1-4 0-0 3. Totals 10-43 7-12 34.

Eastern Washington (3-0)—Von Hofe 5-8 0-0 14, Jois 7-7 3-5 17, Jorg 8-9 2-2 18, Harvey 6-6 0-0 16, Washington 2-5 4-4 9, Hill 0-2 0-0 0, Galgalo 0-1 0-0 0, Reid 1-2 0-0 2, Bliznyuk 4-6 2-2 11, Moon 4-5 0-0 8. Totals 37-51 11-13 95. Halftime—E. Washington 53-19. 3-Point Goals—Walla Walla University 7-28 (Luckett 3-9, L. Spady 2-3, Woodworth 1-4, Collins 1-5, Inman 0-1, J. Spady 0-2, Osias 0-4), E. Washington 10-18 (Harvey 4-4, Von Hofe 4-7, Bliznyuk 1-1, Washington 1-2, Galgalo 0-1, Moon 0-1, Hill 0-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Walla Walla University 12 (Luckett 3), E. Washington 37 (Jorg 8). Assists—Walla Walla University 7 (Luckett 3), E. Washington 25 (Jois 7). Total Fouls—Walla Walla University 12, E. Washington 10. A—821.