BOISE, Idaho (Interstat) — In a game defined by a suffocating defensive start and an offensive explosion from its star guard, the Idaho Vandals seized control early and never relented, defeating the Eastern Washington Eagles 81-68 in a Big Sky Conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at CenturyLink Arena.

The victory, Idaho’s third straight, improved the Vandals to 20-14 overall this season. Eastern Washington concluded its season at 14-19.

The most critical phase of the contest unfolded in the first half, where Idaho’s defensive intensity completely stifled the Eagles’ attack. Eastern Washington managed just 28 points before halftime, shooting a frigid 23.3% from the field and missing 14 of its 16 attempts from three-point range. The Eagles’ offensive struggles were compounded by ball security issues, committing nine first-half turnovers that Idaho converted into 12 points.

Idaho, meanwhile, found an early rhythm behind the dynamic play of junior guard Kolton Mitchell. The Coeur d’Alene native scored 15 of his game-high 26 points in the opening period, attacking the rim and knocking down perimeter shots to help the Vandals build a commanding 36-28 lead at the break. That eight-point advantage felt larger given the Eagles’ profound offensive woes.

The second half saw Eastern Washington, led by forward Kiree Huie’s 20 points, attempt to mount a challenge. The Eagles improved their shooting, putting up 40 points after halftime, but could never string together the defensive stops necessary to seriously threaten Idaho’s lead. Every Eagle push was met with a timely response from the Vandals, primarily through Mitchell or forward Jackson Rasmussen, who added 16 points.

Idaho’s offensive efficiency was the story of the night. The Vandals scored 81 points on just 70 possessions, translating to an elite offensive rating of 116.1. They shot 50.9% from the field (27 of 53) and, while not sharp from deep at 33.3%, consistently generated high-percentage looks. Their work at the free-throw line was also crucial, making 20 of 29 attempts.

Eastern Washington, conversely, finished the night shooting 37.1% overall (23 of 62) and a dismal 15% from three-point range (3 of 20). The Eagles’ offensive rating of 88.0 underscored their difficulties. Guard Isaiah Moses contributed 10 points and six assists, but the team managed only two assists total outside of his output, highlighting a stagnant offensive flow for long stretches.

Defensively, Idaho’s activity was key. The Vandals recorded six steals, led by Mitchell’s two, and forced 15 Eastern Washington turnovers while committing only nine themselves. The Eagles won the battle on the glass, particularly on the offensive end with a 13-7 edge in second-chance opportunities, but it was not enough to overcome their shooting deficiencies and Idaho’s disciplined execution.

Beyond Mitchell and Rasmussen, Idaho received balanced contributions. Isaiah Brickner scored 10 points, Jack Payne added nine, and Seth Joba chipped in five. For Eastern Washington, Alton Hamilton joined Huie in double figures with 10 points, while Jojo Anderson scored 12 off the bench.

The game was a departure from the recent nail-biters between these rivals. Just eight days prior, on March 2, Idaho needed a last-second basket to secure an 85-81 road win in Cheney. Their January 3 meeting in Moscow was also a three-point Idaho victory. Tuesday’s contest, played on a neutral floor as part of the conference schedule, lacked that late drama, as Idaho’s first-half defensive stand created a cushion that held for the final 20 minutes.

According to pregame analytics from Interstat’s ELO system, Eastern Washington held a slight 50.9% probability to win. However, betting markets had installed Idaho as a 1.5-point favorite. The Vandals covered that spread with ease, and the combined score of 149 points fell under the over/under line of 153.5, largely due to the Eagles’ anemic first-half output.

Idaho now looks ahead to the next round of the conference tournament, scheduled for Wednesday against Montana, again at CenturyLink Arena. Eastern Washington’s season comes to a close.