From wire and news services

• COLLEGE MEN'S BASKETBALL

MOSCOW — EJ Neal scored 15 points as Idaho beat NAIA Evergreen State 88-42 on Tuesday at ICCU Arena, marking the first victory for Alex Pribble as Idaho coach.

Neal added six rebounds and three steals for the Vandals (1-2). Kyson Rose scored 13 points and added five rebounds. 

With Idaho leading 7-5, a dunk from Julius Mims started a 21-4 run for the Vandals. Mims put up two back-to-back dunks and came up with two blocks that were crucial to Idaho’s start.

Mims, a junior from North Idaho College, finished with seven points, six rebounds, two blocked shots and two assists.

The Geoducks were led by Mubarak Michael, who posted eight points. 

Idaho plays host to Pacific Lutheran on Friday.

Idaho 88, Evergreen St. 42

EVERGREEN ST. (0-1)

Harroun 1-7 0-0 2, Jones 1-3 0-0 2, E.McLaughlin 2-8 2-3 7, Thomas 1-4 2-2 5, Upshaw 2-7 2-3 6, Russ 1-8 0-4 3, Bridges 1-4 0-0 2, J.McLaughlin 2-7 0-0 5, Brewer 1-4 0-0 2, Glenn 0-4 0-0 0, Michael 2-4 3-3 8, Morton 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 14-61 9-15 42.

IDAHO (1-2)

Mims 3-4 1-2 7, Rose 6-8 0-0 13, Blassingame 0-1 1-4 1, Denker 2-6 2-2 8, Minnis 3-9 0-0 7, Neal 6-6 1-1 15, Yearout 1-3 1-2 3, Hardy 3-4 0-0 6, Linhardt 1-1 1-2 3, Church 2-3 2-4 6, Frank 3-8 3-4 9, Gonzalez 2-7 1-2 7, Hatten 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 33-63 13-23 88.

Halftime_Idaho 40-17. 3-Point Goals_Evergreen St. 5-24 (Michael 1-1, Russ 1-1, J.McLaughlin 1-4, Thomas 1-4, E.McLaughlin 1-5, Brewer 0-1, Bridges 0-1, Harroun 0-1, Glenn 0-3, Upshaw 0-3), Idaho 9-29 (Neal 2-2, Denker 2-5, Gonzalez 2-6, Rose 1-2, Hatten 1-3, Minnis 1-7, Blassingame 0-1, Church 0-1, Frank 0-1, Yearout 0-1). Rebounds_Evergreen St. 18 (Upshaw, Bridges 4), Idaho 55 (Frank 8). Assists_Evergreen St. 9 (E.McLaughlin, Upshaw 2), Idaho 22 (Denker, Minnis 4). Total Fouls_Evergreen St. 19, Idaho 14.

Gonzaga 123, Eastern Oregon 57: At Spokane, Eastern Oregon, coached by former North Idaho College assistant Chris Kemp, sports four local players, and three saw action against the Zags.

Junior Vanti Erving (North Idaho College) had eight points, three rebounds and an assist for the Mountaineers. Freshman Greyson Sands (St. Maries High) had seven points and two rebounds in 17 minutes. Freshman Caleb Schroeder (Genesis Prep, Grand Canyon) had four rebounds in seven minutes.

Graduate student Jonny Hillman (Genesis Prep, Carroll) did not play.

Virginia 80, North Carolina A&T 51: At Charlottesville, Va., Ryan Dunn had his first career double-double and Leon Bond III scored 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting to help Virginia (3-0) beat North Carolina A&T (0-3).

Blake Buchanan, a freshman from Lake City High, had six points and three rebounds for Virginia in his first college start.

• COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

MISSOULA, Mont. — Bella Murekatete scored 14 of her career-high tying 22 points in the third quarter, Charlisse Leger-Walker added 19 points and No. 24 Washington State beat Montana 61-49 on Tuesday night at Dahlberg Arena.

Washington State (4-0) won at Montana (0-2) for the first time since 1979, snapping a 13-game losing streak.

Murekatete, from Genesis Prep Academy in Post Falls, was 6 of 8 from the field in the game-changing third quarter compared to Montana’s five made field goals. The Cougars outscored the Lady Griz 21-10 in the frame for a 51-35 lead.

Murekatete also grabbed 11 rebounds for a double-double and Eleonora Villa added 10 points for Washington State (4-0).

“We played a really good 40 minutes tonight, I’m really proud of our performance tonight, we executed the game plan, had great bench energy and handled a tough rough trip very well. Good team win tonight,” WSU coach Kamie Ethridge said. “Bella was the difference maker tonight, we were able to throw to her down low and was able to get good looks all game. We aren’t where we want to be offensively but our defensive effort was amazing. Bella was a post presence, she rebounded and attacked offensively.”

Murekatete made career start No. 113, fourth-most in WSU history. She blocked one shot to push her career total to 154, third-most in WSU history and four away from Carly Noyes’ school record of 158.

“We had a great game plan, made some nice adjustments and I thought Alex (Covill) had a great game, really helped us, got some rebounds, blocked five shots,” Ethridge said. “We asked our bigs to do a lot tonight and it shows our versatility on defense.”

The Cougar defense forced 11 turnovers, blocked three shots and recorded six steals in the first half to help build a 30-25 lead. The Lady Griz finished with 19 turnovers.

Carmen Gfeller scored 10 points for Montana, which also lost to Gonzaga last week.

Washington State continues a five-game road stretch with a Sunday matchup at Prairie View A&M. The Cougars head to the Cancun Challenge in Mexico next week. Montana plays at Grand Canyon on Monday.