Big Sky tournament will open with Eastern Washington, Idaho

MISSOULA – Even after posting the best regular season in school history, the Eastern Washington players still have plenty to prove.

So do the Idaho Vandals, who not only have a couple of scores to settle with the Eagles, but would see their season end with another loss.

They’ll meet after breakfast today at Dahlberg Arena in the opening game of the Big Sky Conference tournament, which will send its champion to the NCAAs and the others home with something to prove next year.

Eastern (23-8) already did that earlier this year, winning at Montana for the first time in 11 years.

“We’re in a good place,” EWU coach Jim Hayford said as the Eagles practiced Wednesday afternoon in a gym above the arena.

By that he meant in a healthy state of mind. The Eagles are 2-0 in the state of Montana this year. Wednesday’s shootaround was upbeat and businesslike at the same time.

Meanwhile, Idaho is looking for redemption as well as a chance to derail the Eagles.

“Now it’s time to play our best basketball,” said Idaho coach Don Verlin, whose team did just that last month in Cheney – for 37 minutes.

Then the Vandals blew a 12-point lead before losing in overtime 98-95. Three weeks earlier, they lost to the Eagles by three points in Moscow.

The Vandals (13-16) went on to finish seventh in the Big Sky, while Eastern is 23-8 overall and finished atop the Big Sky standings with Montana.

“I’m sure they felt that game in Cheney was one that got away from them,” said Hayford, who also lost something in that game: national scoring leader Tyler Harvey, who missed the next four games with a bruised quadriceps.

Even after he returned, Harvey struggled with his shot. Not coincidentally, the Eagles dropped three of five games at one point, including a 77-76 home loss to Montana that helped send the tournament to Missoula.

But Harvey went off for 24 points in the Eagles’ 79-71 win at Weber State last week, rallying from 19 points down to earn a share of the conference title. Forward Venky Jois had his fourth straight double-double, another sign the Eagles are back in stride.

“We definitely had a good weekend and it was good to be in that atmosphere,” said Harvey, who after Monday’s practice pronounced himself close to 100 percent.

“I’m feeling maybe the best I’ve felt all year,” Harvey said.

The same can’t be said for Idaho guard Connor Hill, who has the flu.

“He’s not coming back as fast as we had hoped,” Verlin said. “We expect him to play on Thursday. He’s not 100 percent for sure.”

The Vandals have lost three of their last five, backing into the tournament despite losing at Idaho State in the regular-season finale.

“I don’t know if it’s anything different we need to do than just play good basketball,” Verlin said.

To do that, Verlin said, the Vandals will have to limit Harvey’s touches and stay between Jois and the basket.

“That’s what makes Eastern so good, is both those guys,” Verlin said.

In the overtime loss in Cheney, the Vandals gave up 13 points to freshman forward Bogdan Bliznyuk. EWU point guard Drew Brandon barely missed a triple-double with 11 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.

The winner will face either Sacramento State or Portland State in a semifinal game Friday night.