COLLEGE PLACE, WASH. - Walla Walla shot 57-percent from the field and held the Eastern Oregon University (EOU) Mountaineers to 37-percent from the field, receiving a double-double from KiAndre Gaddy and a historic day from Zayne Browning to help lead the Wolves to their first-ever win against the Mountaineers in 27 games dating back to 2009.
"This group has been through so much this year and I am proud of them for showing up each day, working hard to improve our program," said head coach Brandon Broome. "Getting our first win against EOU on a special night for Zayne scoring his 1000th point I could not have scripted a better evening. We'll enjoy it tonight and get ready for another tough team tomorrow in College of Idaho."
THE BASICS:
Final: Walla Walla 85, EOU 74
Records: Walla Walla (3-20, 2-14 CCC), EOU (14-11, 8-9 CCC)
GAME NOTES:
- Walla Walla wasted no time, knocking down back-to-back triples to open the game before the Mountaineers answered with a 6-0 run of their own. Zayne Browning helped the Wolves quickly answer, knocking down his 1000th career point on a jumper to put the Wolves ahead again and they would not look back, ending the last eight minutes of the half on a 21-8 lead to take a 44-29 lead into the half.
- The Mountaineers quickly cut the deficit to single digits early in the second half, but the Wolves quickly responded with a run of their own, pushing their lead out to its largest at 19 points after an Artur Borges Paraizo layup made it 69-50 with just over seven minutes left.
- Despite the large hole, the Mountaineers had one last run in them, cutting the deficit to 11 after a Zane Wright triple cut the Wolves lead to 71-60.
- This was the closest EOU got, however, as the Wolves squashed the comeback attempt after KiAndre Gaddy and Zayne Browning dunked on consecutive possessions to push the lead back to 15, shooting 6-for-8 from the free-throw line to secure the win.
PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS:
- Four Wolves scored in double-digits to lead the Wolves offensive attack. KiAndre Gaddy (21 points and 13 rebounds) and Ethan Ford (11 points and 10 rebounds) each recorded double-doubles, while Zayne Browning scored in double-figures with 16 points. Andrew Vaughan provided a spark off the bench, scoring 16 points, shooting 4-for-5 from beyond the arc. Browning is the second Wolves player in program history to surpass 1000 career points, joining Tristan Greenidge (1289 points), and is the first Wolves player to accomplish this milestone since the Wolves joined the Cascade Collegiate Conference.
- Cooper Lumsden scored a game-high 30 points to lead the Mountaineers, shooting 8-for-14 from beyond the arc.
NEXT GAME:
Walla Walla will look to build off this historic win, welcoming in the No. 10-Ranked Yotes of College Idaho tomorrow evening. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. on Windemuth Court.
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