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EWU to play benefit

hoops exhibition game

Eastern Washington’s men’s basketball team has agreed to play at Portland this Sunday in an exhibition game benefitting the American Red Cross Hurricane Maria disaster relief efforts. The game will be played at the Chiles Center at 5 p.m.

The NCAA has approved the waiver request as part of its initiative in supporting disaster relief efforts across the country. Tickets for the game will be $10 for adults and $5 for children. In addition, the American Red Cross will have a contingent on hand that will be accepting donations at the basketball game, with all gate proceeds supporting Red Cross Hurricane Relief Efforts. Fans can also donate directly to the American Red Cross website.

One of Eastern’s new players, Richard Polanco, is from the Dominican Republic, which was also impacted by Hurricane Maria after it made a direct hit on Puerto Rico on Sept. 20. Although his family and home survived the hurricane relatively unscathed, he was in the country at the time and had his return to EWU delayed as a result.

BSU will not join proposed

downtown stadium project

BOISE — Instead, university officials plan to construct a collegiate baseball stadium on or near campus.

The university has been open about its interest in the idea of a shared downtown stadium since 2015, but Boise State President Bob Kustra said that in the end the question came down to the most efficient use of public dollars: It became clear that a long-term lease would be less financially prudent than a project that Boise State could either build or lease to own.

“As a baseball fan, I support efforts that boost baseball in Boise and give our community a chance to enjoy the sport for years to come,” Kustra said. “I wish the Hawks and the City of Boise the best in moving forward. But my primary responsibility as university president is to make the best choices for the future of Boise State.”

All along, Boise State officials have been clear that they have been open to the idea of a downtown stadium because of the opportunities it could provide for collegiate baseball — but that no arrangements had been finalized. The downtown stadium project remained one of the options the university was pursuing until this week. University officials called city leaders and others to tell them personally of the decision.

Last spring, Boise State announced it was dropping its wrestling program to pursue adding baseball.

“We are in the middle of the hiring process for our baseball head coach, and an on-campus stadium will be a major selling point — both to the individual we ultimately hire, and to the future student-athletes that will be recruited to Boise State,” BSU athletic director Curt Apsey said.

Eagles schedule fellow

FCS power Jacksonville State

CHENEY — Eastern Washington’s football team has scheduled a home-and-home series with fellow FCS powerhouse Jacksonville State in 2019 and 2021, Eastern athletic director Bill Chaves announced Thursday.

The first game will take place at Burgess-Snow Field in Jacksonville, Ala., on Sept. 14, 2019, followed by a return game two seasons later on Sept. 11, 2021. Eastern also has previously announced a non-conference game in 2019 at Washington (Aug. 31).