MOSCOW, Idaho - The University of Idaho men's basketball team couldn't hang on Wednesday night as it fell to Eastern Washington in its home opener, 68-55, in front of 2,695 fans at the Cowan Spectrum. The loss drops Idaho to 0-4 on the season.
"I was surprised at how flat we started the game and I thought from that point on we were in a catch-up situation," Idaho head coach Leonard Perry said. "We were prepared and we started out with fouls and then offensively we turned the ball over. It wasn't a good start and Eastern continued to sustain the momentum."
Eastern Washington couldn't miss a shot in the first nine minutes of the game as they raced out to a 21-8 lead. The Vandals responded with an 8-0 run to cut the lead to five points at 21-16. A three-pointer from Brett Ledbetter got the Vandals within three at 31-28 heading into halftime.
Ledbetter and Igor Vrzina led Idaho with seven points apiece in the first half and the Vandals shot 50 percent from the floor. Eastern Washington shot 42 percent in the half and was led by Rodney Stuckey with 12 points.
"I thought Keoni (Watson) did a very admirable job on (Rodney) Stuckey throughout the rest of the first half and I thought that was key in keeping us in the ball game," Perry said.
A three-pointer from Tanoris Shepard in the opening moments of the second half tied the game at 31 and the Vandals were able to stay within five points for most of the first 10 minutes. The game was tied at 47 when Eastern Washington went on a 13-1 run over a four minute span to put the game away.
Keoni Watson led Idaho with 12 points while Shepard, Vrzina and Ledbetter all added 10 points. Mike Kale led the team with five rebounds.
Eastern Washington was led by Stuckey with 18 points while Jake Beitinger added 16.
The Vandals shot 43 percent from the floor while the Eagles shot 49 percent. Eastern also held a big margin in rebounds, 34 to 20, including 11 offensive rebounds.
"I don't know why we miss open shots. I think we have guys that can make them and they haven't gone in," Perry said.
Idaho (0-4) hosts Southern Utah on Saturday, Dec. 3 at the Cowan Spectrum. Game time is set for 2 p.m.
