Eagles ride three-game winning streak
The College of Eastern Utah men’s basketball team avenged the three losses that came earlier in the season when they defeated Snow College, North Idaho College and the College of Southern Idaho; they also dropped a close game against Salt Lake Community College.
Two weeks ago, the Eagles headed north to face the SLCC Bruins. CEU played well against the Bruins, and the score was kept close for much of the game. At halftime SLCC held a slim two-point lead 27-25.
This archived article was written by: Nathan Davis
The College of Eastern Utah men’s basketball team avenged the three losses that came earlier in the season when they defeated Snow College, North Idaho College and the College of Southern Idaho; they also dropped a close game against Salt Lake Community College.
Two weeks ago, the Eagles headed north to face the SLCC Bruins. CEU played well against the Bruins, and the score was kept close for much of the game. At halftime SLCC held a slim two-point lead 27-25.
In the second half, both teams played hard, but the Eagles weren’t able to win the game, dropping another close game 75-73. Michael Glover led the team with 16 points; he also pulled in five rebounds. Vander Jorquim also contributed 12 points and seven rebounds.
After the close loss at SLCC, the Eagles headed to Ephraim to take on their rival, the SC Badgers. The last time the two teams played the Badgers were able to eke out a three-point win, 83-80. This time the Eagles had different plans.
Like most of the games CEU has played this season, this was another close one. The Eagles went into the locker room at half-time with an eight-point lead 45-37. In the second half SC fought back making the game close. SC outscored CEU 28-21 in the second half, but in the end the Eagles were too much for the Badgers to handle. CEU pulled out a close win 66-65. Glover and Isaiah Williams led the team with 15 points each.
After the nail-biter against Snow, the Eagles headed back to Price, where they would host the CSI Eagles. The last two games between CEU and CSI had been thrillers, with both games going into overtime. This time, the Eagles dominated play from the tip off. By the time of the first media time out CEU had jumped out to a 13-4 lead, and the Eagles never looked back. By half time CEU had built a 40-32 lead.
Despite the dominating the first half, not everything was smooth sailing for CEU. In the first half freshman forward Tony Dalton hit his head hard on the court, and had to leave the game following a play in the paint.
When the Eagles came out of the locker room for the second half, they continued to control the game, and pulled out the 80-64 win. CEU’s inside game was on show in the win. Jonathan Mills dominated under the basket, making many tough physical plays. Mills finished the game with 16 points and 13 rebound, recording his ninth double-double of the season. Jorquim also had a big game with 18 points, and eight rebounds.
The next night CEU faced off against No. 4 in the nation, the NIC Cardinals. The game started out close and by the first media timeout NIC had a slight 21-17 lead. In the last two minutes of the first half, CEU took over the game. By half time the Eagles had taken a one-point lead 35-34.
In the second half, the Eagles maintained a slight lead for most of the game over the Cardinals. By the end of the game CEU had built up a 10-point lead, winning the game 76-66. CEU had a good performance as a team, shooting 50 percent from the field, and also out rebounding NIC by 18. Glover led the Eagles in scoring with 16, and eight rebounds. Williams chipped in 15 points, including three from behind the arc.
CEU currently sits in third place in the Scenic West Athletic Conference standings, behind SLCC, and NIC. Following the loss to CEU, NIC dropped to fourth in the national rankings.
On Tuesday Feb. 9, the Eagles played Western Wyoming Community College, but due to deadlines we will cover that game in the next edition of The Eagle. On Friday Feb. 13, CEU will travel to Rangely, Colo. and take on the Colorado Northwestern Community College Spartans. Their final home games of the season will be Feb. 19 and 20 when they will host Snow and SLCC. The final home games of the regular season will be held in the Bunnell-Dmitrich Athletic Center, the games will start at 7:30 PM on Friday and 5 PM on Saturday.
CEU will host the SWAC tournament starting March 4 until 6 with the teams in the SWAC battling for a conference title.
