MOSCOW, Idaho (Interstat) — In a commanding display of offensive efficiency and defensive pressure, the Idaho Vandals avenged an earlier loss to their in-state rival with a decisive 99-69 victory over the Idaho State Bengals in a Big Sky Conference men’s basketball game Saturday night.

A crowd of 2,326 at Idaho Central Credit Union Arena watched the Vandals (14-12, 8-5 Big Sky) dismantle the Bengals (10-17, 5-8) by shooting a blistering 59.7% from the field and 48.1% from three-point range. The 30-point margin of victory was Idaho’s largest in the series in recent memory and flipped the script from a 76-68 Idaho State win in Pocatello just one month prior.

The game was effectively decided in a breathtaking first-half offensive clinic by the home team. Idaho scored 60 points before halftime, connecting on 22 of its 33 field goal attempts, a 66.7% clip. The Vandals built a 30-point lead by the break, a deficit from which the Bengals never recovered. The most important sequence of the game came early, as Idaho State’s initial struggles snowballed into a runaway Idaho lead. After a flagrant foul and a turnover by the Bengals’ Lachlan Brewer in the opening minute, the Vandals seized control. Jackson Rasmussen and Kolton Mitchell ignited a 10-0 run, and Idaho’s ball movement and shot-making proved relentless. The Vandals assisted on 15 of their 22 first-half baskets and scored 42 points in the paint for the game, doubling Idaho State’s interior output.

Idaho’s offensive rating of 132.8 points per 100 possessions starkly contrasted with Idaho State’s mark of 93.8, underlining the chasm in efficiency. The Bengals, who entered the game having lost five of their last six, shot just 35.4% overall and 25.9% from deep. While they committed only nine turnovers and made 16 of 18 free throws, they were simply overwhelmed by Idaho’s firepower.

Kolton Mitchell, a 6-foot-1 guard from Coeur d’Alene, led all players with a masterful floor game, scoring 18 points while grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out seven assists. His backcourt mate, Isaiah Brickner, added 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists. The duo spearheaded an Idaho attack that produced seven players with at least seven points.

Rasmussen, a 6-foot-7 forward from Meridian, provided a major scoring punch with 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Center Brody Rowbury anchored the interior with 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. The Vandals’ depth was on full display as Miles Klapper came off the bench to score nine points in just 11 minutes.

Idaho State was led by Caleb Van De Griend’s 13 points and five rebounds. Martin Kheil added 11 points, but the Bengals’ leading scorer, Connor Hollenbeck, was held to nine points on 4-of-10 shooting. Idaho’s defense, which recorded seven steals and four blocks, consistently disrupted the Bengals’ rhythm.

The second half saw Idaho maintain its comfortable lead, with both teams scoring 39 points. The Vandals’ largest lead was 34 points, allowing them to empty their bench in the final minutes. The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for Idaho and bolstered its position in the upper half of the conference standings. For Idaho State, the loss extended a difficult stretch, dropping the Bengals to 1-6 in their last seven games.

Idaho will look to build on this momentum as it hits the road for its next two contests, beginning at Portland State on Thursday. Idaho State returns home to host Montana on Thursday, seeking to halt its slide.