JONESBORO, Ark. – The Idaho men's basketball team hung on to edge Virginia Military Institute, 68-67, on Friday afternoon. The Vandals (2-2) led most of the way and were able to hold off the Keydets (0-5) to earn the victory.  
 
THE GAME
A familiar script played out, with the Vandals leading for almost the entirety of the first half. Trevon Allen scored 10 points, while Scott Blakney had eight in the period.
 
The Keydets came out in the second half with a hot hand, getting within three points with 15:58 to play. However, Idaho responded with some strong shooting of its own. With 8:47 remaining, Trevon Allen hit his fourth three-pointer of the game, giving the Vandals their largest lead of the game, 62-50.
 
VMI fought back again, drawing within two with just over two minutes to play. A jumper by BJ Simmons found the bottom of the net with 53 seconds left, but Jake Stephens would respond with a three-pointer to get VMI within one, 68-67. With two seconds to play, Allen blocked Myles Lewis' shot, and the Keydets' contested last second shot fell short, as Idaho secured the victory.
 
Allen led the Vandals with 16 points and eight boards, while Blakney finished with 10 points and six boards. BJ Simmons also finished in double figures, recording 11 points.
 
THE NOTES
For the fourth consecutive game, the Vandals led at the half. Idaho is now 2-2 in games that they led at the break.
 
Idaho made seven treys in the game, tied for the most they have made in a game this season.
 
The Vandals won their first game against Division I competition in 2019-20.
 
Marquell Fraser dished out five assists, the second straight five-assist game for the redshirt junior.
 
Idaho had more turnovers than its opponent for the first time this year. The Vandals turned it over 17 times, while VMI had 10 turnovers.
 
The Vandals have now played in two straight games decided by one point. The second of the games began less than 18 hours after the first game concluded.
 
In the two games played at the Red Wolves Classic thus far, Idaho has led an average of 36.0 minutes per game.

THE NAME
BJ Simmons. Simmons came off the bench and scored 11 points, including the vital bucket with less than a minute to play that gave Idaho a four point lead and proved the difference in the game. The sophomore also had two rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

THE QUOTES – Zac Claus
"The guys competed and rallied around each other. To come up with the key stops we had tonight was great. It was a really good collective effort."
 
"We took good shots and moved the ball well especially early on. We have to have balanced scoring from our team, it's a five-man job both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball and we did that today."
 
UP NEXT
Idaho has a day off before playing Arkansas State to wrap up the Red Wolves Classic. The game in Jonesboro, Arkansas, will tip off at 11:30 a.m. pacific time.