The Utah State Eastern men's basketball team opened its 2026-27 season with a 94-86 victory over Western Wyoming College on Saturday at the Bunnell-Dmitrich Athletic Center, according to a October 31 report. Robbie Yates led the Eagles with a game-high 23 points.
The Eagles established an early lead in the first half, aided by a three-point shot from Yates that gave the team a 10-7 advantage. While Western Wyoming tied the game at the 5:40 mark of the first half, the Eagles outscored the Mustangs by three points to enter halftime with a 46-43 lead. Robbie Yates recorded 12 points in the first half, while Stockton Blanchard contributed 10 points before the break.
During the second half, the Eagles built an 18-point lead, which was their largest margin of the game. Although the Mustangs reduced the lead to single digits with less than one minute remaining, clutch free-throw shooting secured the 94-86 win for Eastern. The Eagles' defense forced 20 turnovers, resulting in 23 points, and the USUE bench outscored the Western Wyoming College bench 43-12.
Yates finished the game with 23 points, shooting 7-14 from the field and 6-11 from three-point range. Other players finishing in double digits included Stockton Blanchard with 15 points, Isaiah Reiser with 14 points, and Ezias Steffen with 11 points.
The Eagles are scheduled to host the Central Wyoming College Rustlers on Friday, Nov. 6. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm at the Bunnell-Dmitrich Athletic Center.
