SAN JOSE, Calif. - After upsetting Fresno State on Monday night the Vandals could not sustain any momentum as they fell at San Jose State Thursday night, 72-61.  The loss drops the Vandals to 4-17, 1-9 in the WAC. 

The Vandals were out-rebounded 41 to 32 and gave up 17 offensive rebounds.  Idaho also sent the Spartans to the foul line on 24 occasions and San Jose State cashed in with 16 points from the charity stripe.

"We talked a lot about second shots and we knew that was where the game was going to lie," Idaho head coach Leonard Perry said. "I'm upset that we gave up 17 offensive rebounds and we knew that is what would break our backs."

The two teams traded baskets early in the first half before San Jose State was able to establish a four point lead at 13-9 with 13:58 left.  Mike Kale hit a jumper at the 11:05 mark followed by two subsequent baskets over the next minute to put Idaho on top with its largest lead of the game at 19-16.

Idaho went cold from the floor after that as they were outscored 13-2 over the next seven minutes.  The Vandals were able to find some offensive rhythm near the end of the half with a 7-2 run and went into the locker room down by five at 36-31 after trailing by as many as eight.

The Spartans shot 52 percent (16-31) from the floor in the first half while the Vandals shot 44 percent (14-32).  Kale paced the Vandals with 10 points in the half.

The Vandals used a 5-2 run to open the second half and cut the Spartan lead to two points on three occasions.  Idaho was down 42-40 at the 14:24 mark when the Vandals suddenly couldn't find the basket.  Idaho was out scored 17-4 over the next nine minutes and hit only one field goal during that stretch.  The Spartans were able to push their lead to 15 points with 5:30 remaining in the game.

Idaho continued to battle and a Kale layup at the 1:12 mark cut the lead to ten.  Kale followed that with a steal from San Jose State's Carlton Spencer and found Brett Ledbetter in the corner who buried a 3-pointer to cut the lead down to seven at 66-59 with 54 seconds remaining in the contest.  The Vandals were forced to foul and the Spartans were a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line with under a minute to play as they walked away with the 72-61 victory.

"We didn't control the things that we can control," Perry said. "We can't control someone being more athletic then us, but we can control how hard we block out."

Mike Kale led the Vandals with a career high 20 points on 10-of-14 shooting and seven rebounds.  Tanoris Shepard was held to just nine points on 2-of-11 shooting, the first time this season that he has not scored in double figures.  He dished out eight assists to go along with nine points.

"Mike is getting better and I'm pleased with his progress over the past five games," Perry said. "We are getting him the ball and he answered the bell tonight."

The Spartans shot 46 percent (26-57) from the floor for the game while Idaho shot 41 percent (26-64).  The Vandals were a dismal 4-of-17 (24 percent) from the 3-point line.

"Now we have to get back in the gym and set a game plan for Utah State," Perry said.

The Vandals return to Moscow to host Utah State on Wed., Feb. 15 at the Cowan Spectrum.  Game time is 7:05 p.m. PT.