The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead, building it up to 17 points just seven minutes into the game. The Eagles did their best not to let the Bulldogs run away with the game and turn it into a laugher, cutting the lead down to single digits at halftime.
The Bulldogs would not let the Eagles get an closer maintaining a double digit lead throughout most of the second half. The Eagles made a push halfway through the second half trimming the lead down to nine points. But the Bulldogs tightened up defensively and coasted to a 15 point victory.
In the spirit of the holiday season the Bulldogs were in a giving mood, dishing out 16 assists on 29 made field goals and getting another balanced offensive attack.
The team shared the scoring duties, senior Shyke Smalls (Great Falls, Mont.) and Sophomore Kooper Kidgell (Billings, Mont.) each had 17 points. Junior Marcus Payne (Livingston, Mont.) had 16 points, Junior Dom Robinson (Tacoma, Wash.) added 11 points and six assists. Â Sophomore Riley King (Missoula, Mont.) had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Zaccheus Darko-Kelly (Missoula, Mont.) added nine points.
The Bulldogs shot 50 percent from the field including 38 percent from beyond the arc, the defense had eight steals and forced 18 Eagle turnovers.
The Bulldogs will travel to Billings, Mont. to play against Dickinson State University and The University of Calgary in the Green and Gold Classic on Dec. 29 and 30 at 3:30 P.M.
Game Notes:
     Smalls had three steals giving him 37 on the season, first in division 1.
     Smalls also leads division 1 with 3.08 steals per game.
    The win was head coach Steve Keller's 190th with the Bulldogs.
