Honestly, if you weren't watching Reese Court on Saturday, you missed a clinic. People keep asking about the Bengals game who won because, let's be real, the scoreboard doesn't always tell the whole story of how physical this matchup actually got. The Idaho State Bengals didn't just beat the Eastern Washington Eagles; they basically locked them in a defensive vault and threw away the key.
The final score sat at 66-57. It sounds like a standard college basketball tally, but the way Idaho State ground this out was anything but standard.
The Second Quarter Surge That Changed Everything
Early on, it looked like a total toss-up. Both teams were cold. I mean, ice-cold. They were tied at 7-7 after the first quarter, which is the kind of score that makes offensive coordinators want to pull their hair out. But then the Bengals found their rhythm—or rather, they found a way to break Eastern Washington's rhythm.
Idaho State went on a 10-2 run to start the second. Suddenly, that 7-7 deadlock turned into a 17-9 lead. They outscored the Eagles by nine in that frame alone, and that cushion ended up being the difference-maker.
Why did it happen? Physicality.
Eastern Washington coach Jase Gleason admitted it after the game. He basically said that if you can't handle the way the Bengals play defense, they're going to exploit you. They did. They forced 19 turnovers. That’s 19 times the Eagles didn't even get a shot off. Idaho State turned those mistakes into 20 points. In a nine-point game, that's the whole ballgame right there.
Who Really Stepped Up for Idaho State?
It wasn't just one person, but the Bengals' defensive rotations were crisp. They were jumping passing lanes and making every entry pass to the post feel like a chore. While the Eagles' Ella Gallatin was out there dropping 22 points and nearly grabbing a double-double, the Bengals countered with a balanced attack that stayed "locked-in," as they like to say.
- Turnover Margin: +10 for Idaho State.
- Points off Turnovers: 20.
- Shooting Percentage: 37.1% (not great, but better than EWU’s 34.5%).
The Bengals are now 11-6 overall and 4-2 in the Big Sky. They’re sitting in a pretty good spot. Eastern Washington, on the other hand, drops to 9-9. They won the rebounding battle 42-37, which usually means a win, but you can't overcome giving the ball away nearly 20 times against a team that plays this "grind-it-out" style.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Bengals' Strategy
A lot of fans look at the shooting percentages and think it was just a bad night for the shooters. Kinda. But the reality is that the Bengals' defense causes those bad nights. They don't just wait for you to miss; they contest the "easy" looks until they aren't easy anymore.
They held Eastern Washington to 15.4% shooting in the first quarter. That’s not just "missing shots." That’s a defense suffocating the perimeter.
Key Takeaways from the Saturday Matchup
- Defense Wins on the Road: Winning at Reese Court isn't easy, but the Bengals proved that a high-pressure defensive scheme travels well.
- The "Bowers" Factor: Elyn Bowers still got her 16 points for the Eagles, but Idaho State made her work for every single inch of the floor.
- Consistency: There was only one lead change the entire game. Once Idaho State took control in the second quarter, they never let go.
Looking Ahead for the Bengals
The Big Sky is wide open this year. If the Bengals keep this defensive intensity up, they're going to be a nightmare in the conference tournament. They aren't the flashiest team—they aren't going to drop 90 points on you—but they will make you miserable for 40 minutes.
If you're following the Bengals game who won saga, keep an eye on their turnover conversion rate. It's their heartbeat. When they turn defense into offense, they’re almost impossible to beat, even when their own shots aren't falling.
For those tracking the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals, the season ended on a bit of a sour note with a loss to the Browns in Week 18, but the 2026 schedule is already looking spicy with home games against the Chiefs and the usual AFC North rivals. But for today, the headlines belong to the Idaho State crew and their masterclass in Cheney.
Next Steps for Fans and Analysts
Check the upcoming Big Sky standings to see if Idaho State can leapfrog into the top three. Their next two games are at home, which gives them a massive opportunity to build on this momentum. Watch the turnover stats specifically; if they keep forcing 15+ a game, they’re a lock for a deep run.