Area basketball: Ben College scores 29 points as Whitworth’s men turn back Poets

Ben College scored a game-high 29 points, including a crucial three-point play and 3-pointer in the second half, and Whitworth (2-0) defeated Whittier 90-76 Saturday to complete its stay at the Bruin Classic in Newberg, Oregon.

College, who came within two points of his career high, finished 8 of 19 from the field, including 4 of 12 on 3-pointers, and 9 for 9 from the free-throw line.

The Poets (0-2), who trailed 47-31 at halftime, cut the Pirates’ lead to six points before College’s three-point play and 3-pointer extended the lead to double digits with 2 minutes, 45 seconds left.

Kyle Roach added 18 points, Jarey Christy had 16 points and 16 rebounds, and Kevin Crosno scored 11 off the bench for the Pirates.

North Idaho 98, Peninsula 54: Emmitt Taylor came off the bench for a game-high 23 points, hitting 7 of 10 on 3-pointers, and the host Cardinals eased past the Pirates in a nonconference season opener for both schools.

Alphonso Anderson added 20 points and RayQuan Evans 18 for the Cardinals, who finished 34 for 63 from the field. Anderson hit 8 of 12 from the field and added seven rebounds.

Women

BYU 80, Eastern Washington 65: Brenna Chase led four players in double figures with 17 points and the Cougars (2-1) defeated the Eagles (1-1) in nonconference play in Provo, Utah.

BYU took control with an early 10-0 run and led by as many as 16 points before halftime. Eagles freshman Grace Kirscher, who scored 21 points, had five points during a 7-0 third-quarter run to cut the Cougars’ lead to seven points.

The Cougars responded with an 8-0 fourth-quarter run to boost their lead to 22 points.

Violet Kapri Morrow added 16 points and Jessica McDowell-White 12 for the Eagles.

Idaho 88, Texas Tech 77: Taylor Pierce scored 22 points and all five starters reached double figures as the Vandals (2-1) defeated the Red Raiders (2-1) in nonconference play in Lubbock, Texas.

Pierce hit 6 of 15 on 3-pointers as the Vandals finished 13 of 39 from long range.

Isabelle Hadden added 17 points, Mikayla Ferenz 15, Gina Marxen 12 and Natalie Klinker 11 for the Vandals. Idaho’s starters were a combined 32 of 65 from the field. Klinker added a game-high 14 rebounds and Marxen had six assists.

Idaho finished with six steals and forced 19 turnovers.

Whitworth 74, Texas-Tyler 70: Jordan Smith came off the bench to score a team-high 20 points, hitting 7 of 13 from the field including four 3-pointers, and the host Pirates (1-1) edged the Patriots (0-3) at the Whit Classic.

Camy Aguinaldo hit two free throws with 3 seconds left to seal the victory. The Pirates’ Megan Dorney added 18 points, hitting 6 of 9 from the field and 6 of 6 from the line.

North Idaho 75, Scottsdale (Arizona) 61: The visiting Cardinals (1-1) defeated the Fighting Artichokes (2-3). No details were reported.