Though this game does not quite have the same implications on the Big Sky as Weber State vs. Montana, this one is still a big game with big stakes.
In short, these two teams will meet on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Big Sky Tournament, in the 4/5 game. However, what order the teams are seeded (and thus, where the game will be played) will be decided on Tuesday night in Cheney. Last Thursday, EWU won a tough road game in Pocatello, 85-78.
It will be the curious case of two teams playing each other three times in a nine day span, and right now EWU looks like the better team (by a little). Idaho State had their big streak in the middle of the year, but they have cooled off, losing five of six with their only win coming against Northern Arizona.
It is tough to know which Eastern Washington team will show up, but there are a few things we know. EWU is susceptible to putting their opponents on the line, but ISU will struggle to take advantage of that because they are more of a jump shooting team. The other thing is that Eastern relies on the three, and the Bengals haven't done a very good job of stopping their opponents this year.
Look for Parker Kelly to hit a couple big shots, and for EWU to beat ISU for the second time in a week... and then the rest test will come in whether they can beat them for a third time. EASTERN WASHINGTON 77, IDAHO STATE 70
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Parker Kelly will be a threat from the 3 point line. But in this game i see an x-factor in freshman Garrett Swanson playing in front of his home crowd on a gym hes played in many times. As long as he see's those first few minutes I think he will be hard to take out because he has something to prove in front of his hometown. look for ISU to win 73-72
ReplyDeleteCould go either way.....I'll take the Eags by 3 in this one due to home-court advantage, even though they haven't been sensational at Reese Court. Big game.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see Garrett Swanson play, but he has not played much at all the last several weeks.
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