EAGLES MORE GOLDEN
IN WIN OVER SNOW
by Rick Pike

Badgers Blow First Half Lead Again

EPHRAIM, UTAH-February 18, 2006-The College of Eastern Utah overcame a 14-point deficit in the second half Saturday to defeat Snow 81-77. Both teams blistered the nets all night. Snow finished 56 percent from the field; but CEU bested the Badgers with 58 percent, including 64 percent shooting in the pivotal second half. The game came down to the final minutes when the Golden Eagles made two clutch three-pointers while Snow missed and messed up.

“They hit big shots and we didn’t – it really came down to that,” said Roger Reid, Snow’s head coach. “I had no problem with the shots our guys took – they were good shots. We just didn’t make them.”

Trailing 58-48, the Golden Eagles went on an 18-6 run that included four three-pointers to lead 66-64. Snow regained the lead at 73-72 on a Mike Clark lay-up. Following a CEU turnover, the Badgers had two good looks at the basket but Clark missed an open three and Dante Green missed a follow jumper.

On the next possession, Snow defended the Golden Eagles until late in the shot clock only to give up a wide open three-pointer to Tyler Kepkey and CEU led 75-73. Then came the key sequence in the game. The Badgers had three opportunities to tie the game but missed a jumper inside, committed an offensive foul and then Jake Peterson overthrew Green on a break-a-way lay-up.

Following a timeout, the Golden Eagles ran the clock down to twenty seconds then Michael McCrary elevated to score yet another three-pointer. CEU had an insurmountable 78-73 lead. Geoff Payne was fouled with three seconds remaining and Snow down 80-76. He made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second but it did not hit the rim so the ball went back to CEU.

Snow finished the first half on a 12-2 run to lead 47-37. Payne scored 18 of his game high 29 points in the first half. The Badgers biggest lead was at 51-37 early in the second half but CEU got back within 10 before going on their run to gain control. The Golden Eagles made 10-17 three-pointers – six in the second half. Snow was 6-16 from behind the arc. Snow’s normally efficient three-point shooter, Mike Clark, was just 1-7 from three-point territory.

“Mike’s our shooter and we need him to make shots. It’s as simple as that,” remarked Reid. “Sometimes you have a night like this. Mike’ll be all right. I expect him to come right back and make them for us at Dixie.”

Kepkey and McCrary led the Golden Eagles with 20 and 17 points respectively. Dante Green and Jake Peterson joined Payne in double figures with 14 and 11 points. Peterson also had nine assists. Snow falls to 4-10 in league play and visits Dixie State this week.

In other weekend games
Friday night, CEU defeated Snow 80-68 led by McCrary and Tyler Billings who both scored 17 points. Dante Green led the Badgers with 23.

The Golden Eagle women also soared over Snow. Saturday, Jana Glover and Kaylynn Fager each scored 15 points to lead CEU over the Lady Badgers 72-71. Andrea Medler netted 19 and Mahina Gago 17 for Snow. Friday, CEU jumped out to a 14-point half time lead en route to an 81-62 victory. Elisha Harris led four Golden Eagles in double figures with 14. Brittany Pollastro led Snow with 15 points and six rebounds.

CEU improves to 7-7 in SWAC play while the Badgers are 3-11.