Jose Briseno – USU Eastern Assistant SID
Photo courtesy of Dallin Grant
The Utah State Eastern men’s basketball team hosted the Eagle Classic, featuring the Eastern Wyoming College Lancers and the Western Wyoming Community College Mustangs. After two dominating wins, the Eagles have now won four straight games.
The Eagles wasted no time against the Lancers, opening with a 10-0 run. Eastern continued to dominate the first half, extending its lead to as high as 11 points and never letting it dip below five. Isaac Castagnetto had 10 points at the half to lead Eastern to a 36-30 lead at the break.
With just over 15 minutes left in the game, Eastern Wyoming took a two-point lead, 39-41. The Eagles went on a 7-0 run to take a 46-41 lead. After that point, the Eagles took complete control of the game, pushing their lead to 21 points with a little over two minutes left in the game. Eastern walked away with a convincing 79-63 win.
Ike Palmer scored a season-high 26 points and 11 rebounds, his first double-double of the season. Isaac Castagnetto (15) and Bowen Davies (10) also finished the game with double digits.
Eastern started their game with Western Wyoming with another hot start, leading 13-4 after four minutes in the first half. Western Wyoming scored to tie the game, 20-20, with over 10 minutes left in the first half. After that point, the Eagles outscored the Mustangs 22-11 to take a 42-31 lead at the half.
After the break, the Eagles dominated the Mustangs to take an 80-54 lead with seven minutes left in the half. There was no comeback attempt possible for Western Wyoming as the Eagles ran away with the game, 93-68.
Kayin Turner led the Eagles with 19 points on 100% shooting. Turner went 6-6 from the field, including 3-3 from the three-point line. Isaac Castagnetto (15), Bowen Davies (14), Ike Palmer (12), Robbie Yates (11), and Ethen Stoddard (10) all scored in double digits for the Eagles.
The win was the Eagles’ fourth straight. The Eagles will next host another tournament, this time it is the USU Eastern Invitational, featuring the Eagles, the College of Southern Nevada Coyotes, the Central Wyoming College Rustlers, and the Colorado Northwestern Community College Spartans. Games start on Friday and continue through Saturday afternoon.