Head Coach Matt Nadelhoffer knew two-straight road games with a home test against Cabrini would present a mental challenge for his team. Eastern Men's Basketball stepped up to the challenge Thursday night and again today as they earned an 86-70 road win at Centenary. Danny Miller led all scorers with a career-best 24 points in the win.
With the win at Centenary,their fourth straight, the Eagles improve to 5-3 in PAC play ad 8-8 overall. The Centenary trip is the second long bus ride in three days, and the concern was how the Eagles would respond after beating the Cyclones 106-66 earlier in the year. Early on, it looked as though the staff's fears might be justified as the Cyclones jumped to a 23-14 lead eight minutes into the game.
The Eagles, however, chipped away and finally took the lead for good with just under six minutes to play on a lay-up from Jason Reels. Reels finished the game with 11 points. The Eagles cloed out the half on a 36-18 run as they secured a 50-41 lead at the break. Miller led the Eagles with 12 points on six of seven from the floor. Corey Kearney led the Cyclones and all scorers with 13, while Andrew Baker completed his double-double with ten points and ten rebounds before the break.
The Eagles attempted just seven three-pointers for the game, but Mike Johnson and Matt Flanagan each made one late in the half to help the Eagles to their nine point edge. Eastern went ten deep in the first half, and got significant scoring contributions off the bench from Matt Malloy with seven and Daryl Leegwater with six. For the game, the Eastern reserves outscored their counterparts 31-16.
Eastern pushed their lead to 77-58 midway through the second half, and then slowed down the pace of the game to hold the lead to the finish. The Eagles did not shoot particularly well, just 38% in the second half, but they forced their hosts into 36 turnovers and gathered 15 offensive rebounds. With the focus on getting the ball inside, they attempted just two three point shots in the second half. Leegwater joined Reels and Miller in double figures with ten for the Eagles. David Volpe collected five steals and Johnson collected six assists. Malloy led the Eagles seven boards.
Head Coach Matt Nadelhoffer said of the game. "Mike [Johnson] and Danny [Miller] really set the tone for us by attacking the rim. We knew we didn't want to settle for the perimeter, and along with Daryl, they did a great job getting us inside. I thought our guards did the work pressuring them on the perimeter. We are looking forward to Monday night."
For the Cyclones (3-14, 1-8 PAC), Kearney finished with 20 points, and Baker added 18 points and 15 rebounds. William Atkinson also reached double figures with 14 points.
The Eagles return to action Monday night when they host Eagle Road rival Cabrini College in an important PAC game. With both schools in session and in the play-off hunt, there figures to be a capacity crowd on hand. The women's game starts at 6:00 pm. All proceeds from the gate will go to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
That game will be webcast through the PAC website.
