The Utah State Eastern men's basketball team continued the 2026 campaign with a home game against the Central Wyoming College Rustlers. The Eagles entered the contest with four-straight wins over the Rustlers.
Early in the first half, the Eagles jumped to a 13-point lead after Robbie Yates hit a three-pointer with 14 minutes left in the period. The Rustlers used a 7-0 run to cut Eastern's lead to six, 20-14. The Eagles then used a 13-5 run to retake a double-digit lead, where the lead would stay for the remainder of the first half. The Eagles entered the half with a 41-29 lead.
Robbie Yates led the Eagles with 12 points in the first half. Yates went 4-8 from the field, all shots coming from the three-point line. The Eagles' defense forced nine Rustler turnovers which turned into 14 points offensively.
Central Wyoming opened the second half with an 11-4 run, cutting Eastern's lead to just five points. The two teams began to trade baskets, keeping the Rustlers within single digits halfway through the second half. An Isaiah Reiser basket gave Eastern an 11-point lead, which would stand until the late minutes of the game. The Eagles' defense held the Rustlers without a basket in the final minute, clinching the 91-82 victory.
Merrick Rillstone led the Eagles with 21 points, anchored by a 9-9 performance at the free-throw line. Isaiah Reiser (17), Robbie Yates (14), Brooks Jones (11), and Stockton Blanchard (11) each finished with double figures.
The Eagles will next take the court in a mid-week matchup at the College of Southern Nevada. The Eagles will play three games that week, beginning with the road contest against the Coyotes on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 7:00 p.m.
