CHENEY, Wash. (AP) _ Jesse Chatman rushed for 236 yards and three touchdowns to lead Eastern Washington to a 45-38 win over Idaho State Saturday night at Woodward Stadium.

Eastern improved to 4-3 overall, 3-1 in Big Sky conference play. Idaho dropped to 2-5, 0-5 conference.

Both team combined for 1,109 total yards, but it was Eastern's defensive stand that sealed the win.

Down 45-31 in the fourth quarter, the Idaho Bengals scored on a 37-yard pass from quarterback Kevin McCarthy to Nate Harrison with 2:39 left. It was McCarthy's fourth touchdown pass of the game.

The Bengals recovered their onside kick and drove to Eastern's 26-yard line. But on a fourth down Eastern's Jeff Allen sacked McCarthy to thwart the comeback.

Chatman's yardage was the fourth best rushing performance in Eastern's history. Lamont Brightful's 93-yard touchdown return with 50 seconds left in the first half helped propel Eastern to a 28-17 halftime lead.