In a shocking turn of events, Eastern Washington, ranked 250th in the net rankings, traveled to Reed Gym and handed Idaho State, ranked 185th, a devastating 18-point loss. The 84-66 final score marked a significant upset, as the Eagles dominated the Bengals from start to finish. Idaho State, with a 10-11 record, was expected to handle the 5-15 Eastern Washington squad with ease, but the visitors had other plans.
The game got off to a blistering start, with Eastern Washington racing out to a 23-point lead at halftime, 44-21. Idaho State's Connor Hollenbeck tried to keep his team afloat, scoring 15 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Eagles' balanced attack. Martin Kheil and Evan Otten chipped in with 12 and 10 points, respectively, but the Bengals' offense struggled to find consistency.
On the other side, Eastern Washington's Isaiah Moses was unstoppable, pouring in 22 points and grabbing 5 rebounds to lead the Eagles to victory. Alton Hamilton IV added 15 points and 9 rebounds, while Johnny Radford contributed 12 points to the winning effort. The Eagles' offense was clicking on all cylinders, with multiple players stepping up to make big plays.
As the second half got underway, Idaho State attempted to mount a comeback, but Eastern Washington's lead proved insurmountable. The Bengals outscored the Eagles 45-40 in the final 20 minutes, but it was too little, too late. The Eagles' 18-point margin of victory marked one of the most surprising upsets of the season, and it will undoubtedly send shockwaves through the college basketball landscape.
With no pre-game prediction available, this result came out of nowhere, and it will be interesting to see how both teams respond in the coming weeks. For Idaho State, this loss will be a tough pill to swallow, as it falls into the Quadrant 4 category, which could have real consequences for their tournament chances. On the other hand, Eastern Washington's win is a Quadrant 3 victory, which will undoubtedly boost their resume.
The resume implications of this result are significant, as Eastern Washington's win over Idaho State will be a valuable addition to their tournament profile. Although the Eagles still have a long way to go, this upset victory will give them a much-needed confidence boost. For Idaho State, the loss will be a setback, but they must regroup and refocus quickly to get their season back on track. As the season enters its critical stretch, both teams want to build on this result and make a push for the postseason.