OGDEN, Utah (Interstat) — Tijan Saine scored 23 points to lead Weber State to a 91-80 victory over Eastern Washington in a Big Sky Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Dee Events Center. The Wildcats, who improved to 10-8 overall, used a 49-point second half to pull away after leading 42-44 at halftime. The Eagles fell to 3-14. Saine added five assists for Weber State. Edwin Suarez scored 18 points, and Viljami Vartiainen added 14. Kiree Huie led Eastern Washington with 21 points. Isaiah Moses scored 20, and Tyler Powell had 17. Weber State shot 47.5% from the field and made 9 of 20 three-point attempts. Eastern Washington was held to 4-of-14 shooting from beyond the arc. A crowd of 2,920 attended.

OGDEN, Utah (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive execution and a decisive second-half surge, the Weber State Wildcats pulled away from the Eastern Washington Eagles for a 91-80 victory in a Big Sky Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Dee Events Center. A crowd of 2,920 watched as the Wildcats, led by a stellar performance from guard Tijan Saine, improved to 10-8 overall. The Eagles, despite a strong effort from forward Kiree Huie, fell to 3-14. The contest was a tight, back-and-forth affair for the first 25 minutes. Eastern Washington, leveraging its size inside with Huie, held a narrow 44-42 lead at halftime. The Eagles maintained their edge early in the second half, but the game’s pivotal shift began near the 15-minute mark. With Weber State trailing 48-44, Saine initiated a personal and team run that changed the complexion of the game. He drew a foul on a drive and sank two free throws, then on the ensuing possession, after an Eastern Washington turnover, he found Viljami Vartiainen for a 3-pointer that gave the Wildcats a 49-48 lead, their first since the opening minutes. Saine then stole the ball on Eastern Washington’s next trip and was fouled again, hitting two more free throws to cap a 7-0 personal run and extend the lead to 51-48. The most important sequence of the game followed shortly after. With Weber State leading 58-55 and just over 10 minutes remaining, the Wildcats’ defense stiffened. They forced a turnover, leading to a transition 3-pointer from Saine, assisted by Jace Whiting. On the Eagles’ next possession, Whiting blocked a layup attempt, leading to free throws at the other end. In a span of just over two minutes, Weber State engineered a 14-2 run to blow the game open, turning a three-point edge into a 70-57 command with 7:55 to play. Eastern Washington never recovered, unable to cut the deficit below nine points the rest of the way. Saine, a 5-foot-10 guard from Everett, Washington, was the catalyst throughout, finishing with 23 points and five assists in 34 minutes. His ability to penetrate, draw contact and create for others was the difference, especially during the decisive second-half stretch. He was supported by Edwin Suarez, who added 18 points off the bench, and Vartiainen, who chipped in 14 points, including four 3-pointers. Eastern Washington was paced by Huie, a 6-foot-9 forward from Grayson, Georgia, who scored 21 points and blocked two shots. Guard Isaiah Moses added 20 points and Tyler Powell scored 17 for the Eagles, who shot 48.2 percent from the field but were undone by 15 turnovers and a 4-for-14 performance from beyond the arc. Statistically, the game was closer than the final score indicated. Both teams had 77 possessions, but Weber State’s offensive efficiency proved superior. The Wildcats shot 47.5 percent from the field and were a sharp 9 of 20 from 3-point range. They also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 24 of 30 attempts. Eastern Washington made 22 of 27 free throws but could not match Weber State’s perimeter scoring or sustain its first-half momentum. The Wildcats also won the battle on the glass, securing 11 offensive rebounds to Eastern Washington’s eight, leading to 15 second-chance points. Both teams recorded seven assists and seven steals, but Weber State’s 13 turnovers were two fewer than the Eagles’ total. The victory extended Weber State’s winning streak to three games as they continue to climb the Big Sky standings. Eastern Washington, which had won its previous game against Montana, saw its hopes for a winning streak dashed by Weber State’s explosive second-half run. Weber State next hosts Idaho on Saturday. Eastern Washington travels to face Idaho State on Saturday.

Preview: Eastern Washington Eagles at Weber State Wildcats OGDEN, Utah (Interstat) — A surging Weber State looks to continue its climb in the Big Sky Conference standings when it hosts a struggling Eastern Washington team on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, at the Dee Events Center. The Wildcats (9-8) have won three straight conference games, most recently a 76-71 road victory at Northern Colorado on Saturday. Guard Tijan Saine has been instrumental in the streak, averaging 17.3 points during the run. For the season, Saine is a dynamic scoring threat, having posted 28 points in a narrow loss to Utah Tech and a near triple-double (23 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists) in an overtime loss to Portland State to open conference play. Weber State’s offense has found its rhythm in league play, scoring 95 and 78 points in its last two home wins. The Wildcats will look to exploit an Eastern Washington defense that has allowed an average of 84.4 points in its 13 losses this season. The visiting Eagles (3-13) are coming off their most positive result of the season, a dramatic 66-65 home win over Montana last Saturday. That victory snapped a six-game losing streak. Sophomore guard Isaiah Moses carried the load, scoring 20 points in 37 minutes. Moses has been a bright spot for Eastern Washington, averaging 15.0 points and 4.5 assists over his last seven games, including a 24-point performance against Montana State. Despite the recent win, challenges persist for the Eagles. Their three victories have come by a combined 10 points, while their losses have often been by wide margins, including non-conference defeats at BYU (109-81) and Utah (101-77). Consistency on the road has been elusive; they are 0-7 in true road games this season. This matchup pits Weber State’s momentum against an Eastern Washington team desperate to build on its first conference win. The Wildcats won both meetings last season. Following this game, Weber State will host Idaho on Saturday, while Eastern Washington travels to face Idaho State.