TWIN FALLS, Idaho (Interstat) — The College of Southern Idaho Eagles used a dominant second-half performance to pull away from Walters State, winning 85-64 in a men’s junior college basketball game Wednesday night.

The game, a matchup of two of the nation’s top teams with a combined record of 54-4 entering the night, was tightly contested for the first 20 minutes. Southern Idaho took a narrow 38-32 lead into halftime, but the second half belonged entirely to the Eagles. They outscored the Senators 47-32 after the break, leveraging their efficiency and defensive pressure to turn a close game into a decisive victory.

The most important part of the game was Southern Idaho’s ability to consistently draw fouls and convert at the free-throw line, particularly in the second half as they built their lead. The Eagles attempted 31 free throws, making 24, while Walters State went just 12 of 21 from the line. This 12-point advantage from the charity stripe proved critical in a game where Southern Idaho’s overall field goal percentage was only marginally better.

Southern Idaho’s offense was spearheaded by Jalen Lyn, who scored 25 points. He was instrumental in the Eagles’ attack, frequently driving to the basket and earning trips to the line, where he made 11 of his 12 free-throw attempts. Cooper Kesler added 19 points, including three 3-pointers, and Ben Thornbrue contributed 16 points and five rebounds. Ace Reiser facilitated the offense with seven assists to go with nine points.

Walters State, which entered the game with a 25-1 record, was led by Da’Mori Lytch’s double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds. Taquez Butler scored 14 points and Brian Carter added 13, but the Senators struggled with their offensive rhythm against Southern Idaho’s defense. Walters State committed 23 fouls and nine turnovers, which hampered their ability to mount a sustained comeback in the second half.

Statistically, Southern Idaho’s efficiency was the difference. The Eagles scored 85 points on 69 possessions for an offensive rating of 123.7, while Walters State managed 64 points on 66 possessions for a rating of 97.0. Southern Idaho also won the rebounding battle 33-29.

With the win, Southern Idaho improved to 29-2 on the season. Walters State fell to 25-2, suffering just its second loss of the season. The game was projected to favor the Eagles, with statistical models giving them a 67.9 percent probability to win.