EPHRAM, Utah (Interstat) — In a high-stakes men’s junior college basketball clash between conference heavyweights, the Snow College Badgers avenged an earlier loss by outlasting the College of Southern Idaho Eagles 83-77 on Saturday night.

The game, a critical late-January matchup, lived up to its billing as Snow improved to 22-1 overall while Southern Idaho fell to 18-2. The Badgers’ victory, projected with a 63.7% probability by Interstat’s ELO system, tightened the conference race and showcased a dramatic shift from the teams’ first meeting just over two weeks prior, which Southern Idaho won 84-76.

The contest was defined by a stark contrast in offensive approaches. Snow dominated inside, relentlessly attacking the paint to overcome a dismal 1-for-16 shooting performance from three-point range. The Badgers shot 48.5% from the floor overall, scoring 83 points on 73 possessions for an efficient offensive rating of 113.1. Southern Idaho, meanwhile, struggled with its shooting, connecting on just 40% of its field goals and 6 of 23 from beyond the arc. The Eagles matched Snow’s 73 possessions but managed an offensive rating of 105.0.

The most important part of the game was Snow’s decisive second-quarter surge. After a tightly contested first quarter that ended with Southern Idaho holding a narrow 39-38 lead, the Badgers seized control. They outscored the Eagles 45-38 in the second quarter, leveraging their interior advantage and capitalizing on free throws down the stretch. Southern Idaho could not find a consistent offensive rhythm to counter the run, and Snow’s defense tightened when it mattered most.

Brock McClure led Snow with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds, continuing a strong run of recent form. He was complemented by a game-high 29 points from Kyle Lemke, who was instrumental in the paint, and 18 points from McCaden Adams, who added six rebounds and four assists.

For Southern Idaho, Jalen Lyn led the way with 20 points, while Nathan Ahner scored 16 and Ace Reiser added 14. The Eagles were hampered by a lack of ball movement, recording only four assists against 11 turnovers. Snow also won the battle on the glass, securing 42 total rebounds to Southern Idaho’s 41, including 14 offensive boards.

The game was ultimately decided at the free throw line in the final minute. With the score tied at 77, Snow’s McCaden Adams and Brock McClure combined to make four consecutive free throws to build an 81-77 lead with 31 seconds remaining. After Southern Idaho’s Ace Reiser was fouled on a three-point attempt and made all three free throws to cut the deficit to one, Adams was fouled again and calmly sank two more with 19 seconds left to seal the 83-77 victory.

Southern Idaho’s next game is at home against North Idaho on Feb. 7. Snow travels to face Salt Lake on Feb. 5. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in the regular-season finale at Southern Idaho on Feb. 28.