Eastern Washington Edges Weber State in Big Sky Quarterfinal

Neutral-site matchup between two evenly matched Big Sky teams ends in narrow victory for Eagles

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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In a closely contested Big Sky Conference Tournament quarterfinal matchup, Eastern Washington edged out Weber State 77-74 at the neutral-site Idaho Central Arena in Boise. The game featured two teams with nearly identical efficiency ratings, with the Eagles prevailing by a slim margin.

Why it matters

This Big Sky quarterfinal showcased the competitive balance in the conference, as the two teams were statistically indistinguishable in key metrics like adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency. The narrow outcome highlights the importance of factors like momentum, rebounding, and shot-making in determining the winner of close tournament games.

The details

Eastern Washington was led by junior guard Isaiah Moses, who scored a game-high 18 points. The Eagles shot 54.2% from the field and held a slight edge in effective field goal percentage over the Wildcats. However, Weber State dominated the glass, outrebounding EWU 37-32, led by forward Edwin Suarez Jr.'s 6.8 boards per game. In the end, the Eagles' ability to protect the rim with 3.5 blocks per game proved to be the difference, as they were able to neutralize Weber State's interior advantage.

  • The game was played on Monday, March 9, 2026 at 10:00 PM ET.
  • Eastern Washington defeated Weber State 84-66 in their previous matchup on February 14, 2026.

The players

Isaiah Moses

A junior guard for Eastern Washington who led all scorers with 18 points.

Edwin Suarez Jr.

A forward for Weber State who pulled down a team-high 6.8 rebounds per game.

Jace Whiting

A scorer for Weber State, averaging 14.3 points per game.

Trevor Hennig

A key contributor for Weber State, averaging 13.9 points per game.

Viljami Vartiainen

A Weber State player who added 11.4 points per game.

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What they’re saying

“We knew it was going to be a close game against a very good Weber State team. Our guys stepped up and made the plays we needed to come out on top.”

— Shantay Legans, Head Coach, Eastern Washington (Eastern Washington Athletics)

“It's tough to lose a close one like this, but I'm proud of the way our team battled. We'll regroup and get ready for our next challenge.”

— Randy Rahe, Head Coach, Weber State (Weber State Athletics)

What’s next

Eastern Washington will advance to the Big Sky Conference Tournament semifinals, where they will face the winner of the Montana State vs. Northern Colorado quarterfinal matchup. Weber State's season comes to an end with the loss.

The takeaway

This closely contested Big Sky quarterfinal showcased the parity in the conference, as two evenly matched teams fought to a narrow finish. The game highlighted the importance of factors like rebounding, shot-blocking, and momentum in determining the outcome of tight tournament games.