BOISE, Idaho - The Vandals gave it everything they had Saturday afternoon in their WAC season finale but came up short in double-overtime to Boise State, 85-80 at the Taco Bell Arena.  Idaho falls to 4-24 on the season and ends its first year in the WAC with a 1-15 mark.  The Vandals have dropped eight straight games and their last 10 against the Broncos.

The Vandals had a five point lead with 25 seconds left in regulation but couldn't close the deal as Boise State was able to tie the game and send it to overtime.  The game was tied 15 times and there were 10 lead changes.

"It's no tougher than any of the other 20-something losses we've had this season, they all hurt the same," Idaho head coach Leonard Perry said.  'I am happy that the kids have continued to improve throughout the course of the season and that is a testament of their character."

Boise State hit its first three 3-pointers of the first half to take a 9-4 lead with 17 minutes remaining in the half.  Brett Ledbetter knocked down a 3-pointer at the 15:37 mark to bring the Vandals within two at 9-7 then broke loose for a layin on a David Dubois steal to tie the game at nine.  The Broncos went on a 7-2 run from there to take a 16-11 lead, but the Vandals responded with five straight points to tie the game at 16.

Tanoris Shepard hit his first shot of the game at the 2:17 mark to give Idaho its first lead of the game, 23-22.  The two teams traded baskets and the lead from there and Shepard hit a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left in the half to tie it at 28 heading into the locker room. 

Overall in the first half the score was tied five times and there were four lead changes.  The Vandals shot 38 percent from the floor in the first half while the Broncos shot 42 percent.  Idaho held a 20-15 rebounding edge at the break and Dubois led the way with seven boards.

Neither team could get on track early in the second half as they traded missed baskets and turnovers.  The Vandals broke a 33-33 tie with a Ledbetter 3-pointer followed by a Dubois put-back to take their biggest lead of the game at 38-33 with 12:43 left to play.

The Broncos would come back to tie the game at 40 and again at 42 but the Vandals were able to keep Boise State from taking the lead.  Idaho eventually opened up a six point lead at 59-53 with 3:33 remaining, but Boise State hit a 3-pointer on its next possession to stay within three and eventually cut the lead to one at 59-58.

Dubois hit a pair of free throws with 1:08 remaining to give Idaho a 61-58 lead.  The Broncos missed their next shot but an Idaho turnover gave them another chance to cut the lead.  Eric Lane missed an uncontested 3-pointer and the Broncos fouled Ledbetter on the rebound.  Ledbetter knocked down both free throws to put the Vandals up by five, 63-58 with 25 seconds remaining.

Coby Karl hit an NBA-range 3-pointer with 19 seconds left to cut the lead to two, and the Vandals turned the ball over on the inbounds pass to give Boise State one more chance.  Lane connected on a layin to tie the game at 63 with eight seconds remaining to force the game to overtime.

"It was just a lack of execution," Shepard said of the final 25 seconds of regulation. "We didn't make plays or take care of the ball down the stretch."

"We had a chance and that's all you can ask," Perry said. 

The Broncos struck first in overtime and were able to establish a four point lead at 67-63.  Shepard single-handedly outscored Boise State 8-2 to give the Vandals a 72-69 lead with 1:22 left.  Shepard hit a pair of free throws with 52 seconds left but Boise State hit a 3-pointer on its next possession to cut the lead to one at 74-73.  The Vandals turned the ball over on the ensuing possession and with 4.8 seconds remaining Karl was fouled on a layin and sent to the foul line.  Karl hit one of two free throws and the Vandals grabbed the rebound and raced down the court.  A jumper by Dubois at the buzzer went in-and-out and the game went into double overtime.

Both teams went scoreless through the first two and a half minutes before Karl broke the 74-74 tie with a jumper at the 2:29 mark.  The Vandals responded to tie the game at 76 and again at 78 before taking an 80-78 lead with one minute remaining.

Kenny Wilson hit a 3-pointer on Boise State's next possession to put the Broncos up by one at 81-80 and Karl hit a pair of free throws with 30.6 left to give Boise State a three point lead at 83-80.  The Vandals missed a 3-point attempt and Aaron Smith was fouled on the offensive rebound.  Smith missed both free throws and the Vandals were forced to foul Wilson on the rebound.  Wilson knocked down both free throws to put Boise State up five with 14 seconds left and the Broncos were able to hold on for the 85-80 win.

"The kids are hurt," Perry said.  "They've done everything we've asked them too and they executed well today.  They made some big shots that they weren't making earlier this season and that's progress."

"I believe we are going to win every game and to lose this one is a crushing blow," Shepard said. "It's an in-state rivalry so there is more pressure.  I really wanted to beat these guys."

The Vandals shot 41 percent from the floor for the game while the Broncos shot 48 percent.  Idaho was 9-of-17 from the 3-point line while Boise State was 10-of-21.  Idaho held a 44-36 rebounding edge including 16 on the offensive glass.

Shepard led Idaho with 23 points on 8-of-19 shooting and six assists.  Ledbetter added a career high 20 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the 3-point line.  Dubois recorded 16 points and a career high 18 rebounds for his first career double-double.

The Broncos were led by Lane with 24 points while Karl added 18 points and seven rebounds.

The Vandals (4-24, 1-15 WAC) head to the WAC tournament as the #8 seed and will face league champion Nevada on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. PT.