Eastern snaps 4-game losing streak, beats Montana State

by From wire and news services
| January 29, 2012 8:00 PM

CHENEY - Cliff Ederaine had 17 points and Laron Griffin added 12 points and 14 rebounds as Eastern Washington snapped a four-game losing streak with a 69-52 victory over Montana State on Saturday night.

Cliff Colimon and Tremayne Johnson added 11 points apiece for the Eagles (10-12, 4-5 Big Sky), who outscored Montana State 40-14 in the paint. Former Post Falls High standout Shawn Reid scored 10 points to lead the Bobcats (11-9, 6-3), who had won six of seven.

"This is our best defensive game of the year," said Eastern head coach Jim Hayford. "Montana State is playing really good basketball right now, and I couldn't be more proud of our guys and the coaching staff for shutting them down. We really needed this win. We needed some things to fall our way and so it feels good to go to bed with a win tonight. We needed that bad.

"Defense leading to offense - that was the story of the night."

Down big early in the second half, Montana State rallied to within 46-42 behind a 10-1 burst capped by Christian Moon's 3-pointer with 11:22 left.

Eastern Washington responded with a 14-2 run finished by Colimon's driving layup to push the lead to 60-44 with six minutes remaining. Ederaine's three-point play with 3:15 remaining gave the Eagles their biggest lead, 67-47.

EWU faces Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, Ariz, on Thursday.

No box score was available by press time.