Photo courtesy of Jeff Barrett

The USU Eastern men’s basketball squad closed out the regular season portion of their schedule Sunday and Monday with back-to-back victories over Community Christian College. The Eagles will begin play in the conference tournament on Thursday against Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) in Twin Falls, Idaho on the campus of the College of Southern Idaho (CSI).

CSI earned the top spot in the tournament by completing a perfect 2022-2023 season at 29-0, which also garnered them the No.1 spot in the NJCAA national rankings. SLCC earned the second spot in the playoff with a 26-4 overall record and a 14-4 mark in conference play, they also are ranked No. 9 nationally.

USU Eastern earned the No.3 spot in the four team playoff by finishing with a 12-17 over all record which included a 10-8 Region 18 record.

The Eagles will square off with SLCC on Thursday at 5 p.m., in the three meetings this season USU Eastern is 0-3 against the Bruins, with their final meeting coming on February 18,  in Salt Lake, where USU Eastern came out on the wrong side of the 96-73 final score.

If USU Eastern were to lose, it would end their season, but a win would mean they will move on to take the on the winner of the CSI and Snow College match-up at 6 p.m. on Friday.

The contest with Salt Lake Community College will be broadcast on KOAL 107.3 FM or 750 AM beginning at 4:30 with the Landon’s Diesel Service Pre-game show and tip-off will follow at 5.

Click HERE for a bracket for the 2022-2023 Region 18 Tournament.