TWIN FALLS, Idaho (Interstat) — The Southern Idaho Eagles used a dominant first-half offensive display to overpower the North Idaho Cardinal 85-69 in a men’s junior college basketball game Saturday.

The Eagles, improving to 19-2 overall, seized control early behind a blistering shooting performance, particularly from beyond the arc. They connected on 13 of 30 three-point attempts, a stark contrast to North Idaho’s 3-for-21 shooting from long range. Southern Idaho also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 22 of 28 attempts, while the Cardinal struggled, converting only 12 of 21.

Cooper Kesler led all scorers with 27 points for Southern Idaho, adding eight rebounds. He was instrumental in the first-half surge, hitting multiple three-pointers and contributing in multiple phases. Nathan Ahner supported with 15 points and seven rebounds, while Ace Reiser facilitated the offense with 14 points and a game-high five assists.

For North Idaho, which fell to 10-11, Ajayi Simmons provided a bright spot off the bench with a team-high 17 points. Gage Ontiveros added 12 points, and Ne’quan Brown finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.

The most important part of the game was the opening quarter, which effectively decided the contest. Southern Idaho established an immediate and overwhelming pace, scoring 43 points in the period. Their offensive efficiency was staggering, fueled by a combination of inside scoring, transition play, and accurate three-point shooting. This explosive start built a lead that North Idaho, despite scoring 35 points of its own in the quarter, could never seriously threaten.

The Eagles’ offensive rating of 119.2 points per 100 possessions underscored their efficiency, while the Cardinal managed a rating of 94.6. Southern Idaho maintained its advantage throughout the second quarter, taking an 85-43 lead into halftime. The second half featured no scoring, as the provided play-by-play data concludes at the intermission with the outcome firmly decided.

Southern Idaho’s victory was its third this season over North Idaho, having also won meetings in November and earlier in January. The teams are scheduled to meet again on Feb. 21 in Coeur d’Alene.

The Eagles next play at Colorado Northwestern on Thursday. North Idaho travels to face Salt Lake on Wednesday.