November 17, 2024

Titus Yearout (Nez Perce) Added 12 Points for the Idaho Vandals in Win over Pacific Lutheran

MOSCOW, Idaho – The Idaho men’s basketball team (2-2) cruised past Pacific Lutheran, 96-52 on Friday night at the ICCU Arena.

For the second straight game, the Vandals put together an all-around team performance, as eleven of the thirteen Vandals who made an appearance got into the box score with at least two points. Four Vandals secured double-digit scoring efforts, including season highs from Julius Mims and Quinn Denker with 16 points each to lead the Vandal offense. Mims came one rebound shy of a double-double with a team-best nine rebounds while also pitching in five assists and two steals. 

Terren Frank continued to be a consistent presence off the bench, recording 14 points, five boards and two blocks. Second-year guard Titus Yearout played his best game as a Vandal recording 12 points.

Right from the tip, the Vandals proved to be the aggressor scoring 13 unanswered points in just under five minutes of play. Five different players scored during the opening half-run, including four quick points from Mims. 

From there, the Silver and Gold saw their lead grow to 19 (27-8) after a pair of layups by Tyler Linhardt found the bottom of the net with under 10 minutes remaining. A 10-0 run later in the period built Idaho’s largest lead of the half, as the Lutes had no answer for Idaho’s presence inside. 

The Vandals showed a sense of urgency on the defensive end in the opening 20 minutes, holding the Lutes to 23 points on 38.9 percent shooting from the field. Idaho’s defensive success set up a superior effort shooting the basketball on the offensive end, as the Vandals made 17 of 29 shots on a 59 percent clip.

Another strong start to the second period put the game out of reach for the Lutes, as Idaho outscored their opponent 23-8 to go up 30 points (64-34) with 11:32 to play. Denker had the hot hand coming out of the locker room, scoring nine of his 16 points.

Yearout saw his first action of the second half come with just under 11 minutes to go and took advantage as soon as he stepped on the floor, setting up Frank for a three on the right side of the key to continue the Vandals’ momentum. Three possessions later, Yearout found his first open look at the right elbow and knocked it down to start a string of 10 straight points, including back-to-back threes to put Idaho up 81-44 with 6:31 remaining. 

The pride of Lapwai was sensational in the second half, scoring all 12 points on a 4 for 5 clip in 17 minutes of action.

Idaho increased its lead to 40 points after a Takai Hardy free throw fell through the net. Idaho would tack on 10 more points to close out a 96-52 win.  

The Vandals dominated the glass, outrebounding the Lutes 43-21. Idaho took advantage of 17 second chance opportunities, turning it into 27 points.