CEU’s men’s basketball in pre-season action
Fall is here, the weather is cool, the leaves are falling, and that can only mean basketball is back.
The College of Eastern Utah Eagles started their pre-season action by traveling to Scottsbluff, Neb., to face the Western Nebraska Community College Cougars. The following week CEU played host to the Cougars, with each team racking up a win.
This archived article was written by: Nate Davis
Fall is here, the weather is cool, the leaves are falling, and that can only mean basketball is back.
The College of Eastern Utah Eagles started their pre-season action by traveling to Scottsbluff, Neb., to face the Western Nebraska Community College Cougars. The following week CEU played host to the Cougars, with each team racking up a win.
On Nov. 3, the Eagles made the long trip to Nebraska and faced off against the Cougars. CEU looked impressive on the road, with all five starters scoring in double figures. The team was deadly from beyond the arc going 8/10 from three-point range. At halftime the Eagles had a 41-34 point lead.
Head Coach Chris Craig said, “Our guys were ready to play … the team came out strong from the tip off.” “The key to the game was the play of Cliff Coloman, and Aaron Hawk-Harris.”
In the second half, the Eagles continued to shoot well from the field. Michael Glover had an impressive game. Glover pulled in seven rebounds for the Eagles. Playing 19 minutes, he racked up 17 points. Sophomore guard Isaiah Williams was deadly from the three-point line going 4/5 from the arc and scoring 12 points in the Eagles win.
Coach Craig said that offensive rebounds and points scored off WNCC turnovers were a big difference in the game.
The Eagles hosted WNCC last Saturday. CEU came out with lots of energy and started strong. Glover started the scoring for the Eagles hitting a turn-around jumper early in the game. Scoring was back and forth early in the game with the Eagles and Cougars trading points early.
CEU took their first lead of the game with 16 minutes left in the first half when Glover hit a nice shot in the paint. Nick Thompson played well early on in the game and hit a beautiful turn-around fade-away jump shot.
The Eagles were plagued by foul trouble the entire game. They committed lots of fouls and sent WNCC to the line often. But CEU played hard in the first half and with 10 minutes till halftime, the score was tied at 20.
Leon Sutton shined for the Eagles, making a brilliant defensive play in the first half. WNCC had a fast break, and he came racing from the backcourt to make the steal.
The Cougars went on a seven-point run late in the half. But CEU answered when Isiah Williams drained a three-point shot to make it 27-23. There was in impressive shooting display put on. After William’s three-pointer, WNCC drove down the court and hit a three of their own. But CEU answered right back with the third consecutive three by Sutton. At halftime the Eagles were down 43-35.
CEU came out in the second half looking sluggish and WNCC capitalized, five minutes into the second half they lead 55-41. Glover had an impressive game for the Eagles dominating in the paint. The Eagles fought back, and with five minutes left they were down 72-66. The second half play was very physical, but in the end CEU was unable to overcome the Cougars losing 86-77.
Craig said after the game that the team wasn’t ready, and that they took them [WNCC] for granted, and that he said was his fault.
On Wednesday, Nov 11, the Eagles played the Utah All-Stars at the Bunnell-Dmitrich Athletic Center, but due to deadlines the results of that game will be in the next newspaper. CEU will take on Northwest Wyoming College on Saturday Nov. 14 at the BDAC. The game starts at 7:30 pm.
