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McClain and Zankin combine for 28, but EWU MBB falls short in 76-56 loss to Colorado

McClain and Zankin Combine for 28, but EWU MBB Falls Short in 76-56 Loss to Colorado

Eastern Washington University Men's Basketball (EWU MBB) suffered a 76-56 defeat to the University of Colorado Buffaloes (CU) on Tuesday night at the CU Events Center in Boulder, Colorado.

Despite strong performances from Junior guard Angelo McClain and graduate forward Cody Zankin, the Eagles were unable to overcome a 20-point deficit in the second half.

McClain led the Eagles with 15 points, while Zankin added 13 points and 7 rebounds. However, it was not enough to match the offensive output of the Buffaloes, who were led by senior guard KJ Simpson's 20 points and sophomore forward Tristan da Silva's 19 points.

The Eagles struggled to contain CU's physicality in the paint, as the Buffaloes scored 38 points in the paint compared to EWU's 24. Colorado also dominated the rebounding battle, outrebounding the Eagles 37-27.

EWU Head Coach David Riley acknowledged the team's shortcomings in post-game comments. “We didn't play with enough toughness tonight,” Riley said. “Colorado was the more physical team and we couldn't match their intensity.”

Despite the loss, McClain and Zankin's performances provided a bright spot for the Eagles. McClain has emerged as a reliable scoring option for EWU, averaging 14.3 points per game this season. Zankin, a transfer from the University of Nevada, Reno, has also been a valuable addition to the Eagles' frontcourt, averaging 10.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.

The Eagles will look to bounce back on Saturday, December 17, when they host the Seattle University Redhawks at Reese Court in Cheney, Washington.