Von Hofe, Benzel combine for 12 3s in Eastern Washington win

CHENEY, Wash. (AP) Felix Von Hofe made seven 3-pointers for his 21 points and Cody Benzel added five 3-pointers and 17 points to lead Eastern Washington to a season-opening 70-47 victory over Linfield on Friday.

The Eagles hit half of their 32 3-point attempts and shot 53.2 percent overall.

Von Hofe, a returning double-figures scorer, and Benzel, who made 31 3-pointers last season, stepped up for the Eagles, who lost two star seniors from last season - all-time leading scorer Venky Jois and Big Sky Conference scoring champ Austin McBroom.

Jesse Hunt had a 3-pointer and a dunk and Von Hofe hit a pair of 3-pointers to open the second half for a 26-point lead, 49-23. A 9-0 run got the Tigers within 18 with 5:25 remaining, but no closer.

The Eagles used an 11-2 run, including two 3-pointers, by Benzel and two baskets by Jacob Wiley, for a 38-23 halftime lead.

It was an exhibition for the Division III Wildcats.