POCATELLO, Idaho (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive efficiency and a standout individual performance, the Weber State Wildcats secured a hard-fought 83-73 road victory over the Idaho State Bengals in a Big Sky Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Holt Arena.

The Wildcats, who improved to 16-14 overall, were propelled by a masterful outing from guard Tijan Saine. The Everett, Washington, native scored a game-high 24 points and dished out four assists, consistently breaking down the Idaho State defense to create opportunities for himself and his teammates. His backcourt running mate, Viljami Vartiainen of Helsinki, Finland, added 16 points, including four three-pointers, as part of a balanced Weber State attack.

The Bengals, who fell to 12-18, were led by a trio of players scoring 15 points each: Gus Etchison, Connor Hollenbeck and Caleb Van De Griend. Etchison, a guard from Arcadia, Indiana, also contributed seven assists, orchestrating much of the Idaho State offense.

The most critical phase of the game came early in the second half, when Weber State effectively put the contest out of reach. Leading by six points at halftime, the Wildcats opened the final period with a decisive 11-2 run. The surge was ignited by a Nigel Burris three-pointer, assisted by Saine, and capped by another three from Vartiainen, pushing the lead to 15 points. Idaho State never managed to cut the deficit to single digits again, as Weber State’s offensive execution and timely shooting stifled every attempted rally.

Weber State’s victory was built on superior shooting and ball security. The Wildcats connected on 51.7% of their field goal attempts, compared to just 39.1% for the Bengals. While Idaho State won the battle on the offensive glass, securing 14 rebounds to Weber State’s nine, the Wildcats compensated by committing only eight turnovers and capitalizing on their possessions with an offensive rating of 125.7. Idaho State turned the ball over just six times but struggled to find consistent scoring, finishing with an offensive rating of 105.7.

The Wildcats also displayed depth beyond their leading scorers. Trevor Hennig scored 13 points, while Burris and Edwin Suarez added 11 and seven points, respectively. Suarez, a forward from San Juan, Puerto Rico, was also a disruptive force defensively, recording two steals.

For Idaho State, Jamison Guerra provided a spark with 13 points off the bench, but the team’s interior presence, led by Van De Griend’s 15 points and seven blocks, was not enough to overcome the shooting disparity. The Bengals managed only seven three-pointers on 21 attempts, while Weber State hit eight from beyond the arc.

The game drew an announced crowd of 1,811 to Holt Arena. The result avenged a narrow two-point loss by Idaho State in Ogden just four weeks prior and continued Weber State’s late-season momentum as the conference tournament approaches.

Weber State next travels to face Portland State on Monday. Idaho State will hit the road for its next contest, a Monday matchup at Sacramento State.