Bliznyuk sets all-time scoring mark, EWU tops N Dakota 95-71

Jan 26, 2019, 04:23 am

CHENEY, Wash. -- Bogdan Bliznyuk scored 28 points and his first basket, a pretty 3 from the corner a little over a minute into the game, made him the all-time leading scorer at Eastern Washington, which went on to defeat North Dakota 95-71 Thursday night.

Coach Shantay Legans called time after Bliznyuk set the scoring mark (surpassing Venky Jois, 1,803) and the people in attendance clapped and cheered as the feat was acknowledged with a short ceremony. Before Jois surpassed it in 2015, Eastern's scoring record had stood for 38 years (Ron Cox 1974-77, 1,741).

Bliznyuk hit another 3-pointer to cap Eastern's 10-0 run after the timeout for a 17-2 lead. Bliznyuk has scored 1,830 points in his career.

Cody Benzel added 15 points for EWU (10-11, 5-3 Big Sky) and Mason Peatling scored 11 with 11 rebounds. The Eagles made 15 3-pointers, Benzel with five.

Dale Jones and Geno Crandall scored back-to-back 3-pointers to open the second half as the Fighting Hawks cut the gap to eight. But North Dakota suffered through a five-minute scoring drought and trailed by 22 before Jones hit a 3-pointer to make it 69-50 with 13 minutes left.

Jones finished with 14 points, Crandall 12 and Conner Avants 11 for North Dakota (7-13, 2-6).