MOSCOW, Idaho - The University of Idaho men's basketball team put up a valiant effort but still fell short to league leading Nevada Monday afternoon at the Cowan Spectrum, 74-68.  The loss drops Idaho to 4-20 on the season, 1-11 in the WAC.

"I thought the kids, for the most part, tried to control the things we could with the exception of rebounding," Idaho head coach Leonard Perry said. "In terms of competing I can't ask anymore."

The Vandals held a 4-2 lead in the first half before Nevada went on a 13-2 run over nearly seven minutes to take a nine point lead at 15-6.  The Wolf Pack pushed its lead to 14 points at 28-14 with 7:45 remaining before the game got ugly for both teams.  Idaho missed five consecutive shots and turned the ball over twice while Nevada missed its next four shots and turned the ball over four times.  The Wolf Pack were able to maintain their lead with free throws and a jumper from Nick Fazekas at the 4:13 mark ended Nevada???s drought from the floor to give the Wolf Pack a 17 point edge.

Idaho responded on its next possession with a 3-pointer from Matt Forge to get its first field goal since the 9:46 mark.  The two teams traded baskets before Tanoris Shepard single-handedly went on a 7-0 run for the Vandals to cut the lead to 10 heading into the locker room.   

The Vandals shot 33 percent from the floor in the first half while the Wolf Pack sot 52 percent.  Nevada also connected on 9-of-10 free throws in the opening half and held a 20-11 rebounding edge.

The two teams swapped baskets for most of the second half and the Wolf Pack was able to sustain a 10 to 16 point lead.  Shepard intercepted a Nevada pass and found Keoni Watson down the court for a layin at the 7:32 mark to cut the lead to 10.  Mike Kale grabbed an offensive rebound and his put back was good on Idaho's next possession to cut the lead to single digits for the first time since the 8:30 mark of the first half.

Brett Ledbetter was whistled for a technical foul on Nevada's ensuing possession and Marcelus Kemp made good on both free throws to push the lead back to 10 points with 5:18 left to play.

"It was a big play, I think he got emotional and we were right in the heat of it," Perry said of Ledbetter's technical. "But that play is no bigger than the one where we lose sight on Marcelus Kemp in the corner and he hits a big three."

The Vandals couldn't cut the lead lower than nine points from there until Watson nailed a 3-pointer with 48 seconds remaining to give the Vandals hope with the lead down to eight points.  However, Nevada was able to break loose on its next possession and a dunk from Mo Charlo seemed to put the game out of reach. 

Shepard hit two free throws with 22 seconds left and the Vandals fouled Kemp on the inbounds pass.  Kemp missed both free throws and Forge hit another 3-pointer on the other end to again give the Vandals life with the lead down to five with 13 seconds left.  Fazekas hit his eighth free throw of the night with 11 seconds left to give Nevada a six point lead and a turnover by Idaho on its next possession ended any chances of a comeback.    

"It's been a slow process but we have gradually gotten better as the year's gone on," Perry said. "We"ve been through some tough times in the midst of it but we've gotten better."

The Vandals shot 39 percent (22-56) from the floor for the night while the Wolf Pack shot 51 percent (24-47).  The most glaring stat was rebounds as Nevada out-rebounded Idaho 41-to-24.

Shepard led Idaho with 18 points, four rebounds, six assists and four steals on the night.  Ledbetter added 16 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the 3-point line and Kale chipped in 10 points and a team best five rebounds.  The Wolf Pack was led by Fazekas with 26 points and 15 rebounds.

The Vandals host Hawai'i on Wed., Feb. 22 at 7:05 p.m. PT.  The game will be played at Memorial Gym due to the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the Kibbie Dome.  The Vandals will honor senior Tanoris Shepard in his final home game.

"I guarantee on Wednesday we will lay it all out there for Tanoris in his last home game," Perry said. "I'm proud of what he's done in terms of leadership and going through what we've gone through this year.  He's what Vandal basketball is about."