The Eastern Washington Eagles are set to take on the Weber State Wildcats in an eagerly anticipated matchup as part of the Big Sky Conference play. This showdown, scheduled for Saturday at 3 p.m. EST in Ogden, Utah, follows a dramatic performance by Eagles’ Mason Williams, who racked up a staggering 35 points in their recent 78-70 loss to the Idaho State Bengals.
The Eagles currently hold a 6-16 overall record, with a 2-7 mark in conference play. Conversely, the Wildcats stand at 8-14 overall, sporting a similar 2-6 conference record. With these stats, both teams are keen on turning the tide to improve their standing in the Big Sky.
Weber State, having struggled at home with a 3-6 record, is looking to capitalize on their home-court advantage this time. Notably, they have shown resilience in close battles, managing a 2-2 record in games decided by less than four points. The Wildcats are averaging 74.8 points per game, which closely rivals the 76.0 points the Eagles allow on average, potentially setting the stage for a closely contested game.
Meanwhile, Eastern Washington has struggled defensively, giving up an average of 76.0 points per game. Despite this, they maintain a shooting rate of 45.7% from the field, slightly edging out the Wildcats' defensive metrics, which see opponents shooting 43.6%. The Eagles will aim to leverage this edge to their benefit against the Wildcats.
Key players to watch include Weber State’s Blaise Threatt, averaging 17.7 points, alongside 5.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 2.2 steals per game, and Dyson Koehler, who has contributed an average of 10.4 points in recent games. For Eastern Washington, Andrew Cook is a crucial figure, averaging 14.8 points and 1.5 steals per game, while Mason Williams remains a significant threat beyond the arc with his 1.6 average three-pointers per game over the past ten matchups.
Analyzing the last ten games, the Wildcats have struggled with a 2-8 record and an average of 68.4 points per game, while allowing 77.1 points. Despite shooting a commendable 45.5% from the field, their downfall has been their inability to defend effectively. On the other hand, the Eagles have fared slightly better with a 3-7 record, averaging 69.5 points per game and allowing 70.8 points. Their strengths lie in rebounding and defense, with averages of 29.6 rebounds and 6.8 steals per game, coupled with a defensive front achieving 3.2 blocks on average.
As these two teams clash for the first time this season in the Big Sky play, the stakes are high. Both squads will aim to harness their strengths and rectify their weaknesses in hopes of securing a vital win. Basketball enthusiasts will certainly remain on the edge of their seats as they witness the Eagles and Wildcats battle it out on the court.