Calvin Jensen, Sports Information Director, Utah State Eastern

Photo courtesy of Dallin Grant

USU Eastern faced a tough test against No. 16 College of Southern Idaho on Thursday night, falling 77-57 in a Scenic West Athletic Conference showdown. Despite a strong effort, the Eagles couldn’t overcome the Golden Eagles’ balanced attack and sharp shooting from beyond the arc.

CSI set the tone early, shooting 46.9% in the first half and building a 44-30 lead at the break.  Eastern struggled to find an offensive rhythm against CSI’s staunch defense. Leading the way for the Eagles was guard Ike Palmer, who scored a team-high 19 points and added four rebounds. Jaxon Heiden contributed 10 points and four rebounds, while Kayin Turner came off the bench to score nine points and grab seven boards.

Despite hitting 50% of their three-point attempts (5-for-10) and keeping the game within reach midway through the second half, USU Eastern was outscored 33-27 in the final frame. Southern Idaho capitalized on their size and depth, outrebounding USU Eastern 42-26 and outscoring them 12-4 on second-chance points.

Turnovers proved costly for the Eagles, with CSI scoring 14 points off USU Eastern’s 14 turnovers. The Golden Eagles also utilized their bench effectively, with 19 points coming from reserves compared to the Eagles’ 17.

USU Eastern (10-6, 1-3) will look to regroup as they prepare for another home game against North Idaho College (11-8, 1-3) on Saturday, January 18 at 3:00 p.m.