BOZEMAN, Mont. - Spotty defense and sporadic offense were the downfall of the University of Idaho Vandals Saturday night in a 71-65 non-conference loss at Montana State University.

After trailing by as many as 18 points in the first half, UI closed to within six, 38-32, at the half. The Vandals did break out on top once in the second half but they couldn't sustain it.

The reason, coach Leonard Perry said, was defense.

"It wasn't the offensive end," Perry said. "It was on the defensive end. Everything was on the defensive end."

He could be so emphatic in making that statement simply by noting the Bobcats' 51 percent shooting percentage for the game. The Vandals weren't nearly as effecient offensively with just 42 percent of their shots hitting the mark and with the scoring load going to two players - senior Dwayne Williams and junior college transfer Dandrick Jones. Each had 20 points.

Jones was the reason for the first-half revitalization that brought the Vandals back in contention by halftime and it was Williams and his long-range out-pouring that kept the game close in the second.

After making the late first-half run, the Vandals continued to dog MSU. Williams' sharp-shooting kept the run going and Jon Tinnon went inside to tie the game for the first time at 42-42. Williams gave them their first - and eventually only - lead moments later.

The back-and-forth battle continued until MSU put together an 8-3 run that gave them enough of a cushion to keep the Vandals at bay. As much as UI was plagued by a sporadic offense, it was defensive lapses that frustrated Perry.

"We played indicative of the way we practiced this week," Perry said. "I've been telling them, 'You're going to have to get stop and play defense without fouling.' It's about the way you practice. If you get it perfect in practice, you'll get it right in the game.

"It's not right right now. That's my job to get it right."

The Vandals are 1-3 heading into next Saturday's home opener against Boise State. Tipoff at the Cowan Spectrum has been moved from 7 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Pacific.