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Eastern Washington University Basketball

Cody Benzel’s big night leads Eastern Washington over Idaho State 91-62

Eastern Washington guard Cody Benzel fires up a 3-pointer over Wisconsin-Green Bay guard Jevon Smith on Nov. 16, 2018, in Cheney. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
Eastern Washington guard Cody Benzel fires up a 3-pointer over Wisconsin-Green Bay guard Jevon Smith on Nov. 16, 2018, in Cheney. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)

POCATELLO – 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) led 42-40 at intermission and extended the lead to 12 (53-41) in a little more than 4 minutes into the second half.

Benzel, a Ferris High grad, made 8 of 15 3-pointers as Eastern finished 15 of 36 (41.7 percent) from behind the arc.

“You root for Cody – he does everything we ask of him and is our glue guy,” EWU coach Shantay Legans said in a team release. “Besides being a great shooter, he’s a good defender and does everything our team needs.”

The Eagles were 31 of 63 (49.2) shooting 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 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 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).