TWIN FALLS, Idaho (Interstat) — The Southern Idaho Eagles used a dominant second-half performance and a game-high 23 points from Ace Reiser to defeat the Gulf Coast State Commodores 82-70 in a men’s junior college basketball game Friday night.

The game, a matchup of teams with a combined 54 wins this season, was tightly contested for the first 20 minutes before the Eagles pulled away. Southern Idaho improved to 30-2 overall, while Gulf Coast State fell to 24-8.

The most important part of the game was Southern Idaho’s decisive surge to open the second half, which transformed a narrow halftime lead into a commanding advantage. After leading 38-36 at intermission, the Eagles erupted with a 17-4 run over the first five and a half minutes of the second period. The burst was fueled by efficient offense and stifling defense, turning a two-point game into a 55-40 Southern Idaho lead.

Jalen Lyn, who finished with 24 points, and Reiser, who added eight assists to his scoring total, were central to the run. The Eagles’ ball movement and shot selection during this stretch proved insurmountable for the Commodores, who struggled to find an offensive rhythm after halftime.

Southern Idaho’s victory was built on superior efficiency and capitalizing on opportunities. The Eagles shot 48.1% from the field and a blistering 55% from three-point range, making 11 of 20 attempts. They also converted 21 of 29 free throws, exploiting a significant disparity from the foul line where Gulf Coast State managed only 6 of 15.

Gulf Coast State, which shot 42.2% overall, was led by Devontes Cobbs with 22 points. The Commodores kept pace in the first half by making 10 three-pointers, but their offense stagnated after the break against a disciplined Southern Idaho defense.

Despite committing nine turnovers to Gulf Coast State’s six, the Eagles controlled the glass with a 37-31 rebounding edge and limited the Commodores to just seven assists. Nathan Ahner provided a strong interior presence for Southern Idaho with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Ben Thornbrue added 11 points, five rebounds and two blocks.

For Gulf Coast State, Trent Lincoln contributed 11 points and five assists, and Jabari Quarterman added 10 points and seven rebounds. The Commodores’ bench, led by Alex Pissis’s nine points, offered a spark but could not counter Southern Idaho’s sustained second-half execution.

The Eagles’ victory extended their winning streak and solidified their status as one of the nation’s top junior college teams, overcoming a Gulf Coast State squad that entered the contest having won three of its last four games, including two in overtime. Southern Idaho was projected as a heavy favorite pregame with an 80.4% win probability by Interstat’s ELO system, a forecast they fulfilled with their second-half performance.