Bliznyuk scores 25, EWU beats Montana State 84-79

CHENEY, Wash. -- Bogdan Bliznyuk scored 25 points with nine rebounds and nine assists, and Eastern Washington beat Montana State 84-79 on Saturday.

Mason Peatling scored 19 points with 13 rebounds, and Jack Perry and Cody Benzel scored 11 points apiece and combined for six of 10 3s for the Eagles (14-13, 9-5 Big Sky Conference).

Bliznyuk's back-to-back layups put EWU up 65-62 and the Eagles led by seven on his free throws with 6:37 to play after holding the Bobcats without a field goal for three-plus minutes. Konner Frey's jumper tied it at 74, but Bliznyuk's 3-point play and Peatling's free throw made it 78-74 with 45 seconds left.

The Bobcats closed to 82-79 on Harald Frey's three free throws, but Bliznyuk hit two from the line and MSU's Tyler Hall missed a 3 with two seconds left.

Montana State led 40-38 at halftime after making seven 3s and shooting 50 percent from the field.

Hall scored 22 points, Harald Frey and Konner Frey added 16 apiece and Devonte Klines had 15 for the Bobcats (13-15, 6-9), who made 12 3s in losing their third straight.