by William McLaughlin, EOU Communications
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Mountaineer Men’s Basketball Player Phillip Malatare (Salish/Kootenai) was named this week’s WVT Laboratory CCC Player of the Week for his efforts on the hardwood. It is Malatare’s second time winning the weekly award.
Malatare had a solid week in three starts as he helped lead Eastern Oregon to a 2-1 record inside Quinn Coliseum, which included a 93-91 overtime upset of then No. 13 College of Idaho. He played 96 total minutes over the course of the three-game span.
Overall, Malatare shot 52.3% for the week going 23-44 from the floor. He also shot a combined 15-18 at the free throw line for 83.3% and finished with 63 points across three games for an average of 21.0 points per game.
In a Tuesday tilt against the then 13th-ranked Yotes, Malatare was superb scoring a game-high 27 points on 10-20 shooting. He also scored all 11 points for the Mountaineers in OT to lift them over the Yotes. He also dished out five assists in the win.
Against Bushnell on Friday, Malatare went 7-13 from the floor and 708 at the free throw line for 22 points in 29 minutes played. On Saturday against Corban, he added 14 points on a 6-11 shooting performance. He also dished out four assists in 30 minutes played and tallied two steals.
