The men’s basketball team started their season with a pair of games over the weekend. They lost their first game on the road, 106-88, against Mississippi State University on Nov. 13 but turned things around in their second game against George Fox University, winning, 126-64, on Nov. 15.

After an exciting run last season, the Eagles looked to start this season out hot with an out-of-conference game against Montana State University of the Southeastern Conference. They got off to a great start and were leading the Bulldogs, 51-48, at halftime.

In the second half, EWU quickly started out on a 9-2 run to go up 60-50. A 10-point lead in the second half looked promising, but then MSU exploded for a 33-6 run where the Eagles did not have a field goal for eight and a half minutes. It was a tough second half, but a well-fought game to start the season.

Forwards Felix Von Hofe and Bogdan Bliznyuk each had 21 points, leading the team. Forward Venky Jois had seven rebounds and guard Austin McBroom had 15 points and 5 assists.

Despite a loss to start the season, head coach Jim Hayford said he believed there were positives to take away from the team’s performance. “I was pleased with some of our performances out there and there are a lot of things to fix,” Hayford said via GoEags.com. “This is one out of 31 games and we know what we need to do to get better.”

In their second game, the Eagles got off to a good start against GFU. Maybe it was the thrill of receiving their Big Sky Championship rings before the game as the Eagles led, 56-26, at the half.

EWU had multiple runs against the Bruins. In the first half they rolled off 16 unanswered points and then a 10-4 run later in the half. In the second half the Eagles went off for 21 unanswered points capped by a Jois dunk to make the score 84-34 with 11:37 left in the game. The game ended with an EWU 15-5 run.

Jois led the team in points with 29 and was 13-15 on field goals. Bliznyuk had 19 points and 12 rebounds. McBroom also had 19 points and 10 assists. “They’re both double-doubles” Hayford said of Bliznyuk and McBroom’s performance. “When you have 2 players of that kind of production and neither of them were the leading scorer, it was a really good team performance.” Cody Benzel played seven minutes at the end of the game and put up an impressive 12 points including a dunk. He was perfect on the night, going 4-4 on field goals and 2-2 on three-point shots and free throws.

EWU overpowered the Bruins with their size and strength. As a team, the Eagles had 49 rebounds, nearly double GFU’s 25. EWU also outscored GFU on fast break points, 49-14.

After the win and loss this weekend, the Eagles are 1-1 to start the season. Coach Hayford was impressed by MSU. “Mississippi State is really good, they’re going to be a top-25 team mark my words,” he said. But he remains positive moving forward. “We scored 88 points Friday night against Mississippi state, we’re going to score points,” Hayford said. “Where we want to get better as a team is in the implementation of our new attacking defensive scheme. So I was really pleased to see 27 turnovers and we almost doubled them up on the rebounding.”

Von Hofe did not play against GFU, but there should be no concern. Hayford said, “Seattle University is his own team, I just wanted to rest the legs of our best shooter.” Also, McBroom left the game early Sunday evening after getting fouled and falling hard onto his right shoulder. After the game he had ice on it and said assuredly, “I’m good. I’ll be ready to go on Tuesday.”

The Eagles will play at home against Seattle U on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 6:05 p.m. And again at Seattle on Monday, Nov. 23 at 7 p.m.