Sanders, Blake help Idaho defeat Eastern Washington 58-51

Jan 13, 2018, 05:45 am

CHENEY, Wash. -- Victor Sanders scored 18 points and Brayon Blake added 11, including a key 3-pointer late, as Idaho pulled away in the last 13 minutes to defeat Eastern Washington 58-51 Friday night, capping a comeback from 14 points down and snapping a 12-game home win streak for the Eagles.

Idaho, the preseason favorite in the Big Sky Conference, held EWU's Bogdan Bliznyuk to 14 points on 5 of 14 shooting. Bliznyuk was held scoreless for more than 32 minutes.

Sanders made 6 of 14 shots, two 3-pointers and grabbed nine rebounds for Idaho (11-6, 3-2), Trevon Allen added 12 points. The Vandals controlled the boards 39-29, including 29 defensive rebounds, which factored in 14 points off the fast break.

EWU (8-10, 3-2) made 8 of its first 13 shots to lead 20-6, but Arkady Mkrtychyan scored back-to-back buckets and Chad Sherwood and Allen added treys as Idaho reeled off a 10-0 run to come back from 14-down, getting to 27-25 by halftime. The Vandals scored the first six points of the second half for a 31-27 lead.