MOSCOW, Idaho ? Michael Crowell scored 20 points to lead four Vandals in double figures, but the University of Idaho men's basketball team fell to Idaho State 71-69 in overtime Saturday.
Idaho (1-5) lost leads at the end of regulation and in overtime in its second defeat this season on the last possession. Idaho State improved to 2-5 with the victory.
“This is piercing for the guys in that locker room because this is the third game where we have been in contention with six minutes or less and the second game where it came down to the last possession and the other team has made the basket to beat us,” Idaho coach George Pfeifer said.
The Vandals led just 26 seconds during regulation, but Crowell's 3-pointer with 14.9 seconds remaining looked like it would be all Idaho needed. A foul was called on the other end, however, and Amorrow Morgan sank two free throws with under five seconds remaining to tie the game at 60-60 at the end of regulation.
After an Idaho State free throw to begin overtime Crowell again hit a big 3-pointer to put the Vandals ahead 63-61. Idaho State scored next to tie the score at 63-63, but the Vandals held the advantage until a 3-pointer with just under a minute remaining moved the Bengals ahead 69-67. A driving lay in by Trevor Morris tied the score at 69-69 with 35 seconds remaining, but Idaho State played for the last shot and scored on a lay in with 4.4 seconds remaining.
“There were times at the end of regulation and in the overtime where we played really tight and executed all the way through and we reaped the benefits of that. Then we had some times where someone was going to make the big play and bail us out and you can't do that at this level and in this type of game,” Pfeifer said.
Crowell shot 7-of-11 from the floor and hit 5-of-8 3-pointers. He also added six rebounds. Morris came off the bench to score 14 points in 22 minutes and Clyde Johnson and Darin Nagle each added 13 points. Jordan Brooks finished with just five points but grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and also added five assists.
“Crowell played very well tonight from beginning to end. There was no waiver and he made timely baskets for us,” Pfeifer said.
The game started slowly for the Vandals as they fell behind 7-0 after missing their first four shots and committing three turnovers. Crowell's 3-pointer got Idaho on the scoreboard and sparked a 7-2 run to pull the Vandals to within 11-10 at the 8:14 mark. Idaho State then benefited from the poor shooting of the Vandals and used a 15-7 run to pull ahead 26-17 with under a minute remaining in the half. The teams traded baskets and Idaho State held a 28-19 advantage at halftime.
Idaho opened the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers to pull within three, but Idaho State regained a 34-28 advantage at the 14:40 mark. Morris proceeded to score five consecutive points and bring the Vandals within one and Johnson's driving lay in gave Idaho its first lead of the game at 35-34 with 12:44 remaining. The lead was short-lived, however, as Idaho State reclaimed the lead on its next possession and held it until the events at the end of the half.
Idaho is 0-5 in overtime games since its last win during the 2002-03 season.
Idaho rebounded from a dismal 6-of-29 (.207) shooting display in the first half to hit 16-of-29 (.552) shots in the second half and finish 25-of-65 (.385) from the floor in the contest. The team hit 12 3-pointers and tied its season low with just 14 turnovers. Idaho State committed 21 turnovers which lead to 26 points for Idaho. The Bengals scored just two points off of Vandal turnovers.
The Vandals are back on the road next week with a game at Central Arkansas Wednesday (Dec. 5) at 5 p.m. PT.
