Feb. 4, 2003

ABILENE, Texas - Senior Jason Eaker sat down for a quick question and answer session. He had a lot of things to say and hopes the Cowboy fans continue to support the program. Eaker is having a great year by averaging 11.1 points per game and leads the team with 31 steals. Eaker had a great game against Sul Ross and set a new personal season record with 23 points.

What do you think about the first home win of the season against Schreiner in which you lead the team with 17 points? It was a tough win and it came late in the season but we finally finished a game off in a good way. It is always good to win, especially at home against a conference team.

Are you a team player or a leader on the team? I try to be a leader on the team by actions. I play hard and give my all doing whatever is necessary to win the game and help the team.

What are your strengths on the court? I feel my strengths on the court are that I play with a lot of energy and with my instincts. I bring to the team a different kind of offense by not thinking about a shot. I just do and react during a game.

What do you concentrate on during a game? Defensively, I concentrate on who I am guarding, the area he moves to and what moves he makes for instance if he shoots or passes the ball. I then act to try to stop him.

What gets you motivated? What motivates me is that I continue to grow as a player. I do all I can and take steps to be a better player and grow with the team.

What has contributed to your recent scoring surge? Before Christmas I was not scoring well on our games. During the break I did some soul searching and a lot of practicing because I wanted to prove to Coach Howard and to the rest of the team that I was a strong starter. I hope my stats reflect that now.

How do you feel about conference action so far? I feel in our conference there are probably two teams who are better than us, but we seem to be at the same skill level as the other schools. Our conference seems to be an equal playing field and all games matter.

Which ASC schools are surprising you this year? I am impressed with Sul Ross. They have taken positive steps to be a new powerhouse in the ASC West. I also feel our team is surprised about us (Hardin-Simmons) and how we thought we would win more games this year.

Are you meeting your personal goals you set in the beginning of the season? My personal goal is to prove to myself and Coach Howard that I belong on the court this year. I would also like to gain respect from Coach and the other players on the team.

What can we expect for the rest of the season from you and the team? You can expect from me motivation to play well in conference and to try to beat teams like McMurry and Mary Hardin-Baylor, which we have not done in a couple of years. It's my senior year and I want to end on a positive note.

What is your favorite memory about playing at Hardin-Simmons? I have a lot of great memories but what will stand out is knowing where I started out as a player and where I am now. I have steadily progressed these past years and have learned so much.

How is balancing being a student-athlete during basketball season? It's difficult to balance being a student-athlete. I always have to make sure to get caught up in class from being on the road, but it is manageable. The true test for me is this semester because I want to try to play golf.

What are your plans after Hardin-Simmons? After graduation, I plan to go to graduate school and help out with a basketball team. I want to be a basketball coach one day.