Calvin Jensen, Sports Information Director, Utah State Eastern
Photo courtesy of Dalliln Grant
In an electrifying Scenic West Athletic Conference matchup, the Utah State Eastern men’s basketball team nearly upset top-ranked Snow College, falling 77-75 in a game that came down to the final seconds.
The Eagles showcased exceptional resilience against the visiting Badgers, holding their own throughout a closely contested game. Mark Huber led USU Eastern with a stellar performance, scoring 25 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including two three-pointers, and going 9-of-10 from the free-throw line.
Trailing 37-32 at halftime, USU Eastern came roaring back in the second half, shooting an impressive 61.1% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. The Eagles even outscored Snow 43-40 in the final frame but ultimately came up just short.
Freshman Jaxon Heiden added 17 points for USU Eastern, going 8-of-12 from the floor, while Ike Palmer chipped in 13 points, including 6-of-10 from the charity stripe. Ryker Richards was a force on the boards, grabbing a game-high eight rebounds to go with six points.
Snow College leaned on balanced scoring and bench contributions, with Chance Trujillo leading the Badgers with 15 points, including three triples. Mark Brown and Isaac Finlinson each added 14 points, while the Snow bench provided a crucial 31 points to the Eagles’ 7.
The Eagles’ defense held Snow to 44.8% shooting overall and just 29.2% from three-point range, while forcing 14 turnovers and collecting nine steals. USU Eastern’s strong interior play led to 30 rebounds, including eight from Richards.
The Eagles had a chance to win in the final seconds but couldn’t convert a tough three-point attempt.
“I’m really proud of just about everything but the final score,” said head coach Bill Evans. “Our guys kept fighting and never backed down. They showed heart and refused to roll over, and that’s all you can ask for as a coach.”
USU Eastern (10-5, 1-2) will remain at home as they take on another nationally ranked conference opponent in #15 College of Southern Idaho (14-3, 2-0). Tip-off against the Golden Eagles will be on Thursday, January 16 at 7:00 p.m. inside the BDAC.