Benzel’s career-high 30 sends E Washington past Idaho St

POCATELLO, Idaho (AP) — Cody Benzel scored a career-high 30 points and Jesse Hunt scored 14 with 16 rebounds and Eastern Washington pulled away from Idaho State in the second half for a 91-62 win Thursday night.

The Eagles (13-17, 11-8 Big Sky Conference) led 42-40 at intermission and extended the lead to 12 (53-41) in a little more than four minutes into the second half.

Benzel made 8-of-15 3-pointers as Eastern finished 15 of 36 (41.7 percent) from behind the arc. The Eagles were 31-of-63 (49.2) shooting overall and committed just eight turnovers. Mason Peatling scored 14 and Jack Perry 10. Idaho State (10-18, 6-13) cooled in the second half and made just 8 of 27-shot attempts and missed all seven 3s in the second half.

Kelvin Jones led the Bengals with 17 points, Alonzo Walker added 12 and Chier Maker 10.

Eastern now has won eight of its last 12 and wraps up conference play on Saturday at Weber State (11-8). The Eagles and Wildcats are knotted in a three-way tie for third place in conference with Montana State (11-8).