Andrew Cook cemented himself as Eastern Washington’s hero on Saturday night, scoring a career-high 28 points to rally the Eagles past Idaho 75-73 in a heart-stopping Big Sky Conference showdown. The junior forward went a flawless 10-for-10 from the free-throw line, including two game-winning shots with seven seconds remaining, capping a tense final two minutes that saw EWU erase a late deficit.
Cook’s dominance began early, as he shot 75% from the field (9-of-12) while anchoring the Eagles’ offense. His thunderous dunk with 1:35 left tied the game at 71-71, igniting the home crowd in Cheney. This is the type of resilience we’ve been building toward, said Eagles head coach in a post-game statement.
Andrew’s composure under pressure flipped the script.
Eastern Washington (10-16, 6-7 Big Sky) saw additional contributions from Sebastian Hartmann and Emmett Marquardt, who each scored 11 points. Idaho (11-15, 6-7) leaned on Isaiah Brickner’s 17 points and Julius Mims’ 13-point, 8-rebound effort but faltered in the final minutes. Key stats included:
- EWU’s 92% free-throw accuracy (12-of-13)
- A 12-4 scoring run in the game’s final four minutes
- Zero turnovers by Cook in 34 minutes played
This win propels Eastern Washington into a tie with Idaho for eighth in the Big Sky standings, intensifying the race for conference tournament seeding. With three regular-season games remaining, Cook’s emergence as a clutch performer could redefine the Eagles’ postseason ambitions. Analysts highlight his improved decision-making and leadership as catalysts for EWU’s recent turnaround.
The Vandals, meanwhile, face mounting pressure after their third consecutive narrow loss. Idaho’s inability to contain Cook down the stretch underscores defensive concerns heading into next week’s rivalry matchup against Montana. Coach Alex Pribble emphasized post-game, Closing games requires mental toughness—we’ll regroup.