Eastern Washington (4-10) at Portland State (8-6)
By Sports Network
GAME NOTES: Big Sky Conference action is on tap in Portland tonight, as the Vikings of Portland State play host to the Eastern Washington Eagles at the Peter W. Stott Center.
Eastern Washington comes into this battle as losers of its last two contests, including a disappointing 60-51 loss at Seattle on Thursday night. The defeat was not the way the Eagles hoped to kick off a four-game road swing as EWU plays its next home game on January 20th.
Portland State has lost four of its last six games after getting off to an impressive 6-2 start to the season. The Vikings, however, are coming off a 79-72 victory at Idaho State last Sunday.
This is the 35th meeting between these two squads and the series is knotted at 17-17. However, Portland State has come out on top in the last five contests, including a 98-75 victory last season which touted the largest margin of victory ever by the Vikings over the Eagles.
Eastern Washington was undisciplined on Thursday and it cost the Eagles as they dropped a 60-51 decision on the road to Seattle. EWU committed a total of 19 turnovers in the affair. The Redhawks also outmuscled the Eagles around the net, scoring 40 points in the paint, while EWU could only net eight points in the lane. The Eagles struggled just as much on the boards, being outrebounded by a 49-26 margin, which included a 20-9 deficit on the offensive glass. The Eagles trailed 32-23 at intermission after a lackluster shooting performance in the opening half (.269). Eastern Washington was a little better in the second half (.385), but suffered the nine-point loss nonetheless. Sophomore guard Kevin Winford scored 11 points in defeat, while junior forward Tremayne Johnson added 10 points. The Eagles are winless on the road (0-7) this season.
Sophomore guard Chris Harriel, the reigning Big Sky Player of the Week, poured in a career-high 25 points to help Portland State secure the 79-72 victory at Idaho State last Sunday. The Vikings held a 31-23 advantage at the break after holding the Bengals to 31.8 percent shooting from the floor in the opening half. Harriel led the way out of the locker room early in the second stanza, scoring eight points to help PSU take its biggest lead (12 points) with under 17 minutes to play. Charles Odum was spectacular during the win as well, sinking a total of 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting. The junior guard was also feeling it from long range, sinking three of his four attempts from beyond the arc, helping the Vikings to a sizzling 56 percent showing from three-point territory in the win.
The Eagles are coming off a disappointing defeat on the road, while the Vikings are well rested and ready to defend their home court. PSU will ride the hot hands of Harriel and Odum en route to a double-digit victory.
Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/01/08/2569244/eastern-washington-4-10-at-portland.html#ixzz1ATSzgrD8
