HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2015-4635, by Representatives Parker, Holy, Riccelli, Manweller, Ormsby, Fagan, Schmick, and Dent

WHEREAS, Under the instruction, guidance, and leadership of Head Coach Jim Hayford and his staff, the 2014-15 Eastern Washington University men's basketball team joined the 2003-04 squad in advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in the Division I era; and

WHEREAS, The Eagles finished 26-9 overall, the team's most victories in a season since becoming an NCAA Division I member in the 1983-84 season; and

WHEREAS, In beating the University of Montana 69-65 in the Big Sky Conference Tournament Championship game, Eastern won the title game for the first time since 2004; and

WHEREAS, The Eagles finished 4-0 in the 2014-15 season in Missoula, including going 3-0 in the 2015 Big Sky Conference Tournament; and

WHEREAS, In sharing the league title with the University of Montana, Eastern won its third regular season league title in 28 years as a member of the Big Sky Conference; and

WHEREAS, The 14-4 league mark for Eastern Washington University exceeded the school record for Big Sky wins in a season, breaking the previous mark set in the 1999-00 season when the Eagles were 12-4; and

WHEREAS, Junior Tyler Harvey became the first Eagle to ever lead the NCAA Division I in scoring, with an average of 23.1 points per game, closed the year with Big Sky and Eastern Washington University single season records for season 3-pointers with 128, and made a school record and ranked fourth in league history with his 738 points; and

WHEREAS, Eastern Washington University's heart-stopping 88-86 victory at Big Ten Conference member Indiana University on November 24, 2014, will go down as one of the greatest victories in school history after the Eagles snapped the nation's third-longest non-conference home court winning streak at 43 in front of 11,636 Hoosier fans at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana; and

WHEREAS, In addition to their success on the court, the Eagles team attained a 3.20 grade point average during winter quarter, while also being honored by the Spokane City Council for their involvement as mentors for 5th graders at Whitman Elementary School; and

WHEREAS, These extraordinary achievements would not have been possible without the unequivocal support of Eastern Washington University's Board of Trustees, presidential leadership from Dr. Mary Cullinan, and the encouragement of the Eastern Washington University student body, faculty, staff, alumni, family, friends, community members, benefactors, and fans;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the highest level of excellence in achievement shown by the Eastern Washington University men's basketball team and the shining example of inspiration such achievements have set for others; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the value and dedication of student athletes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the President of Eastern Washington University, the Athletic Director of Eastern Washington University, the coach of the Eastern Washington University Eagles, and to each Eastern Washington University men's basketball team member.