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Senior forward Ike Okoye scored 21 points, snatched 17 rebounds and blocked five shots to help the Boise State men's basketball team defeat Eastern Washington 82-69 Tuesday night in Cheney, Wash.
It was the second double-double of Okoye's career at BSU and a career-best rebounding total. He missed career-highs in points and blocked shots by one apiece.
"Coach (Greg Graham) said we had to try to get a win for Thanksgiving, and we got him one," Okoye said.
The Broncos (3-2) scored the first 10 points of the game and led 44-30 at halftime. The Eagles (2-3) cut the deficit to a single point on two occasions in the second half, but couldn't pass a Boise State team that placed five players in double figures and had a sixth score nine points.
Reggie Arnold, making his first start of the season, scored 18 points. La'Shard Anderson, Kurt Cunningham and Paul Noonan tallied 10 points apiece, and Daequon Montreal scored all nine of his points in the final 9 minutes to help the Broncos hold off the Eagles.
"When we share the ball like that, we're hard to defend," Graham said.
Graham juggled the starting lineup for the first time this season, adding Arnold and Wes Perryman in favor of Noonan and Anthony Thomas, who both struggled in last Saturday's loss at Wyoming.
Brandon Moore led Eastern Washington with 18 points.
Boise State plays its home-opener Saturday against North Texas. Fans who bring a ticket stub from Friday's football game against Nevada can buy a basketball ticket and get a second ticket free.
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