Jason Walker, University of Providence Sports Information 

CALDWELL, Idaho – Montana native Philip Malatare scored 18 points to lead Eastern Oregon over the University of Providence men's basketball team 71-62 Saturday at the Taco Bell Shootout in Caldwell, Idaho. Malatare, from Arlee, Mont., also added 10 rebounds for the Mountaineers.  

The Argos trailed by as much as six in the first half before taking a one-point lead into the locker room thanks to eight points from Caleb Currington off the bench, including 2-3 from the three-point line.  

Providence led by six with just over 13 minutes remaining after another Currington three, only to see Eastern Oregon go on a 9-3 run to tie the game at 53-53. AJ Huddleston would hit a jumper in the lane with 5:45 left to give the Mountaineers the lead, which they would not relinquish.  

Eric Milner led the Argos for the second straight game with 16 points, Jake Olsen had another double-double of 12 points and six rebounds while Currington finished the game with 11. Providence shot 23-56 from the field (41.1%) and made 6-15 from the three-point line while struggling (10-18) from the free throw line. Eastern Oregon was 25-67 shooting but outrebounded the Argos 52-31.  

The loss is the second straight for the Argos which fell by six Friday night to 4th ranked College of Idaho, and that game took a toll on the Argos Saturday, "We ran out of gas in the second half," says UP Head Coach Steve Keller. "Eastern (Oregon) was more physical and they crushed us on the boards. We need to rest up and regroup for our two conference games this week." 

Providence opens Frontier Conference play Thursday night hosting MSU-Northern at the McLaughlin Center. The game will take place following the Argo women's conference opener against the Skylights. The women's game starts at 5 PM with the men to follow at 7 PM. Both games can be livestreamed at www.upargos.com.