MOSCOW, Idaho - The University of Idaho men's basketball team shot 62 percent from the field in the second half of Wednesday night's exhibition game against Carroll College to take the 73-63 win at Memorial Gym.

"We're young and we played a veteran team, but a year ago we couldn't have beaten them," Idaho head coach Leonard Perry said.  "I give our kids a lot of credit.  I thought we beat a really good team."

The two teams traded baskets during the first half before the Vandals broke a 16-16 tie and recorded six straight points for a 22-16 lead.  Carroll then went on an 11 point run to take a five point lead at 27-22.  Idaho fought back to take the lead at 33-31 before the  Saints' Kurt Paulson was fouled on a 3-point attempt with 14 seconds remaining in the half.  Paulson hit all three free throws to give Carroll College the 34-33 halftime lead.

"I knew we'd be a little nervous and it took us a little while to get into a groove," Perry said.  "I thought at halftime we settled down."

"They shot extremely well from the three in the first half, but in the second half I thought we did a very good job of holding them to 29 percent."

The game was tied at 37 in the second half before a seven point Vandal run gave Idaho the 46-39 lead with 13:30 left.  Idaho pushed its lead to as many as 17 at 72-55 before taking the 73-63 victory. 

The Vandals held the Saints to 29 percent from the floor in the second half, 32 percent for the game.  Idaho shot 52 percent for the game and 80 percent from the free throw line.  Both teams committed 22 turnovers in the game while Idaho held a slight 35-33 rebound margin.

"Overall I was pleased.  I knew Carroll would be tough; they are well coached," Perry said.  "I thought our kids came out in the second half and really defended."

Tanoris Shepard led Idaho with 16 points and four assists.  Nebojsa Jakovljevic added 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting while Keoni Watson chipped in 13 points.  Freshman David Dubois led the team with nine rebounds and also added 13 points.

Carroll College was led by Kurt Paulson with 28 points and was 5-of-6 behind the arc.

"The guys that played earned those minutes," Perry said.  "These kids have competed every day and put themselves in a position to get the minutes."

The Vandals open the regular season on Nov. 18 at #8 Gonzaga.