by JONESBORO, Ark. – The Idaho men’s basketball team fell to Arkansas State, 82-68, on Sunday afternoon to close out a four-game road swing, and three games in four days. The Vandals (2-3) led by as many as 14 points, but the Red Wolves (4-1) used their size advantage to make a late run to earn the victory.
THE GAME
For the fifth straight game, the Vandals led at the half. The first 20 minutes was a game of runs. Idaho jumped out to a 14-5 lead, before the Red Wolves fought back within five points. The Vandals would respond with an 8-0 run, leading by a game-high 14 points, 33-19. The visitors led by eight, 43-35, at the break.
In the second half, ASU slowly chipped away at the Vandals’ cushion. The home team took its first lead of the game, 57-55, with 9:55 to play when Marquis Eaton hit a three pointer. The teams battled back-and-forth for the next seven minutes, but eventually the Red Wolves began to pull away, taking a double digit lead with just under two minutes to play, and winning the game, 82-68.
Scott Blakney led the Vandals with 19 points, while Trevon Allen (Umatilla) was just behind with 18 points. Quinton Forrest led the squad with seven rebounds.
THE NOTES
For the third straight game, a Vandal had at least five assists. Chance Garvin dished out six assists in the game, while Keyshaad Dixon had five assists.
The last time two Vandals had at least five assists in one game was against Bethesda November 18, 2018. Trevon Allen had six, while Geno West had eight.
The team had 21 assists in the game. It was the first time an Idaho team had at least 20 assists in a game since it had 21 against West Coast Baptist November 27, 2018.
Idaho entered Sunday first in the Big Sky Conference in turnovers per game (11.5). They had just eight turnovers in the game.
The Vandals shot 60.0 percent (18-for-30) from the field in the first half, which included a 3-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Idaho has now held a halftime lead in all five games of the 2019-20 season.
The game wrapped up a four-game road swing, the only one of the season for Idaho.
The Red Wolves outscored the Vandals 22-7 in the final 8:23.
Idaho was outrebounded, 39-28. It was the first game of the season that the Vandals had fewer offensive boards than their opponent (6-12).
“Overall, I know we improved during this tournament. Our guys are buying in and playing hard. These games will make us better down the road.”
UP NEXT
Idaho has almost a week off before hosting Walla Walla University on Saturday, November 23. The game will tipoff at 7 p.m. in Memorial Gym.
