Sluggish second half costs E. Washington

by From news services
| January 18, 2013 8:00 PM

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Troy Huff reached the 1,000-point plateau for his career Thursday night, scoring 18 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and leading North Dakota to a 65-47 victory over Eastern Washington.

It was the sixth career double-double for Huff and his second this season.

The Eagles played the game without a pair of senior starters who were injured Wednesday in Grand Forks in an accident involving one of EWU's team mini-vans. Point guard Kevin Winford (concussion) and shooting guard Jeffrey Forbes (knee) both sat out.

"With the adversity we were going through, I thought our guys did really well," EWU coach Jim Hayford said. "We had control of the game in the first half and made it a game that was winnable. In the second half, North Dakota was fired up and we didn't match their intensity."

North Dakota (6-10, 3-4 Big Sky) shot only 28.1 percent in the first half and trailed 29-27 at halftime. North Dakota sprinted out of the gates however, going on an 8-0 to begin the game, but things turned ugly quick with the Eagles answering with a 10-0 run of their own to get back in the game.

North Dakota began the second half with a 13-0 run, taking a 40-29 lead capped off by a thunderous dunk by Huff.

Aaron Anderson had 17 points, six rebounds and six assists for North Dakota.

Venky Jois led Eastern Washington (4-13, 2-5) with 12 points and 14 rebounds.

EWU plays at Northern Colorado on Saturday.

E. WASHINGTON (4-13)

Hill 0-3 0-0 0, Seiferth 6-7 2-4 14, Reuter 0-5 0-0 0, Chiverton 1-9 0-0 2, Jois 5-9 2-2 12, Harvey 1-2 0-0 2, Kelly 3-9 0-0 8, Dorsey 3-11 0-0 6, Jorg 0-1 0-0 0, Forbes 0-0 0-0 0, Hickert 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 20-59 4-6 47.

NORTH DAKOTA (6-10)

Anderson 7-12 0-0 17, Huff 5-14 6-7 18, Webb 3-9 4-7 11, Wilmer 1-5 1-2 3, Schuler 4-9 0-0 9, Antwi 0-1 0-0 0, Benton 0-1 2-2 2, Allard 1-4 1-2 3, Archer 0-4 0-0 0, Stockdale 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 22-60 14-20 65.

Halftime_E. Washington 29-27. 3-Point Goals_E. Washington 3-23 (Kelly 2-6, Hickert 1-3, Dorsey 0-2, Reuter 0-3, Hill 0-3, Chiverton 0-6), North Dakota 7-18 (Anderson 3-4, Huff 2-4, Webb 1-3, Schuler 1-3, Allard 0-1, Archer 0-3). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_E. Washington 38 (Jois 14), North Dakota 44 (Huff 11). Assists_E. Washington 6 (Hill 5), North Dakota 13 (Anderson 6). Total Fouls_E. Washington 18, North Dakota 14. A_1,456.