CHENEY - Collin Chiverton scored 20 points, helping Eastern Washington secure a 72-68 victory over Montana State on Thursday night.

Eastern Washington (6-15, 4-7 Big Sky) also got 15 points from Parker Kelly and 13 points from Kevin Winford.

Venky Jois chipped in with 14 rebounds, seven assists and three blocked shots.

"Any win is a good win, but this is a big one," EWU coach Jim Hayford said. "Montana State is playing as good as basketball as anybody except maybe Montana. They are a good team, and this was a good win. We did some growing up today."

Montana State (9-10, 6-5) had a rough shooting night, hitting just 30 percent of its shots from the floor and 3-point range and 69 percent of its attempts from the free-throw line.

Flavien Davis scored 12 points for Montana State. Paul Egwuonwu and former Post Falls High standout Marcus Colbert each scored 10.

Montana State had a 15-3 advantage in second-chance points, while Eastern Washington countered with a 26-22 scoring edge in the paint and 25-18 edge off the bench.

EWU hosts Montana on Saturday.

MONTANA ST. (9-10)

F. Davis 3-8 5-5 12, Blount 2-10 3-6 9, Egwuonwu 1-4 8-12 10, Colbert 4-9 0-0 10, Moon 3-9 2-2 9, Brumwell 0-0 0-0 0, Dison 1-4 0-0 2, Biglow 2-10 1-2 5, Norman 1-2 0-0 2, Budinich 0-3 0-0 0, Coleman 3-7 1-2 9. Totals 20-66 20-29 68.

E. WASHINGTON (6-15)

Kelly 5-13 3-5 15, Reuter 2-3 0-0 4, Jois 1-8 6-8 8, Seiferth 2-6 3-6 7, Winford 4-9 2-2 13, Hill 0-1 2-2 2, Jorg 0-0 0-0 0, Chiverton 7-14 5-5 20, Hickert 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 22-55 21-28 72.

Halftime_E. Washington 41-36. 3-Point Goals_Montana St. 8-26 (Coleman 2-3, Colbert 2-5, Blount 2-5, F. Davis 1-3, Moon 1-4, Norman 0-1, Dison 0-1, Budinich 0-2, Biglow 0-2), E. Washington 7-20 (Winford 3-7, Kelly 2-6, Hickert 1-1, Chiverton 1-6). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Montana St. 45 (Egwuonwu 7), E. Washington 41 (Jois 14). Assists_Montana St. 9 (Biglow 5), E. Washington 15 (Jois 7). Total Fouls_Montana St. 20, E. Washington 19. Technical_Blount. A_1,330.