Cook powers Eastern to dominant win over Weber State
OGDEN, Utah — Eastern Washington (7-16, 3-7) bounced back in impressive fashion, defeating Weber State (8-14, 2-7) 72-49, fueled by Andrew Cook's dominant all-around performance.
Cook led the Eagles with 27 points and collected six rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one steal. Emmett Marquardt added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Vice Zanki also reached double digits, contributing 13 points. Mason Williams grabbed six rebounds, helping Eastern win the battle on the boards 44-34.
As a team, Eastern shot 45% from the field and an exceptional 91.7% from the free-throw line, with Cook going 9-for-10 from the stripe. The Eagles' bench was a major factor, scoring 40 points, 27 of those from Cook, while Weber's bench was limited to just four points.
First Half:
The game started slow for both teams. Weber struck first with two free throws, but Eastern quickly answered with a layup from Marquardt. The Eagles took their first lead after a deep three-pointer from Zanki.
Weber managed to regain the lead, holding it for several minutes with some key defensive stops. However, back-to-back threes from Sam Stockton and Marquardt put Eastern back on top, 21-20, with 5:18 left in the half. With just two minutes remaining, Weber retook the lead, but Eastern closed the half strong with a 6-0 run, capped off by two free throws from Cook, giving the Eagles a 27-24 advantage at the break.
In the first half, Eastern's bench contributed 19 points, while Weber's bench was held scoreless. Eastern shot 10-of-32 from the field, while Weber struggled with 7-of-30 shooting.
Second Half:
The Eagles came out hot in the second half, with Sebastian Hartmann hitting a three-pointer off a Marquardt rebound and assist. Eastern's 9-1 run forced Weber to call an early timeout.
Marquardt added two free throws to extend the Eagles' lead to 11 with 13:59 remaining. Weber tried to respond, but Eastern had an answer for every challenge. Zanki hit another three to keep the lead in double digits, and the Eagles found another gear, going on an 11-1 run to push the lead to 17.
With 7:25 left, Marquardt hit two more free throws to give Eastern a commanding 55-35 lead. Despite a late push from Weber, the Eagles' dominant play continued, and they cruised to a 72-49 victory, snapping a five-game losing streak.
Up Next:
Eastern Washington will return home for a three-game homestand, facing Sacramento State, Portland State and Idaho.