MOSCOW, Idaho -- After a slow start, Idaho looked like the preseason favorite Big Sky favorite, pulling away from North Dakota to register a 96-71 victory Saturday at the Cowan Spectrum.

Senior Dale Jones scored a career-high 24 points and his 16-first-half points allowed the Fighting Hawks (7-14, 2-7 BSC) to build a margin of that same figure midway through the opening 20 minutes before the Vandals (14-7, 6-3 BSC) took control of the contest.

Idaho senior Victor Sanders scored a game-high 26 points and classmate Brayon Blake added a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds to pace the home team.

Jones hit back-to-back treys to open the scoring and after Geno Crandall made it an 8-0 contest, Idaho called a timeout.

The Vandals would get back within two, but a 13-2 run by the visitors gave them their first double-digit lead of the contest.

After Jones' fourth 3-pointer of the half gave UND its largest lead at 33-17, the Vandals caught fire from the floor and took the momentum back from the visitors.

Idaho outscored UND 29-8 in the closing seven-plus minutes and closed the first half with back-to-back three's in just seven seconds. The latter came following a steal by Blake, who faded away from the corner to give Idaho a 46-41 lead at the break and 12 first-half points.

UND started 11-for-15 from the field to build that 16-point advantage, but finished 3-for-9 to allow the home team to get back in the contest. Jones had 16 first-half points to pace the Fighting Hawks.

The Vandals started 5-for-17 from the field, then went 9-for-10 to close and also went 15-for-16 from the foul line to aid their first-half comeback.

UND was whistled for 14 first-half fouls and 23 for the contest and that played a factor as Marlon Stewart, who was held scoreless for the first time this season, had three fouls and UND's second-leading scorer could never get on track.

Idaho remained hot out of the break, making 9-for-12 from the field to build its first double-digit lead of the game at 64-51 at the 12-minute mark of the second half.

The Vandals came out of the under-12 media timeout and buried back-to-back triples to push the lead to 70-51 and the Fighting Hawks never recovered.

Idaho finished the second half 22-for-36 and shot 57 percent for the agme, while UND went just 9-for-25 after halftime and finished shooting 46.9 percent.

Blake helped lead a dominant effort on the glass for the Vandalls, who corralled 38 rebounds to UND's 20 in the contest.

Cortez Seales and Tray Buchanan each added 10 points for UND to give the visitors three players in double figures.

UND returns home next week for a pair of Big Sky matchups, starting Thursday with a tilt against Montana State. Tip-off with the Bobcats is slated for 7 p.m. CT.

-- UND --

-- UND --