MOSCOW, Idaho – The Idaho men's basketball team fell in another close game, 78-75, to Eastern Washington on Thursday evening. The game featured 10 ties and 10 lead changes before the Eagles (10-6, 3-2 BSC) edged the Vandals (5-11, 1-4 BSC) for the conference victory. Senior Trevon Allen reached the 1000 point plateau early in the first half.

THE GAME
The Eagles started the game hot, jumping out to a 7-0 lead before the Vandals could respond. However, the home team slowly chipped away at the deficit, eventually taking a 20-19 lead with just under eight minutes until halftime. Idaho led by as many as four points, but EWU led, 35-31, at the break.
 
Eastern Washington pushed its lead out to double digits, 49-39, with 13:36 left to play. But once again the Vandals responded, going on a 12-0 run, including eight points by Trevon Allen, to retake a lead, 51-49, with nine minutes remaining. Down the stretch was end-to-end and back-and-forth, as the lead swung between the teams. With 36 seconds left, a Damen Thacker three-pointer gave Idaho a one-point lead, but Jack Perry responded with a trey to take the lead back for the Eagles. Down three points with two seconds to play, the Vandals got the ball, but the half court heave was short, sealing the win for the visitors.
 
Allen led the Vandals with 23 points, while Scott Blakney chipped in 14, and Jack Wilson added 10 points. Marquell Fraser tallied seven points and eight rebounds.   
 
THE NOTES
Trevon Allen made a three-pointer with 12:59 to play in the first. With that bucket, the senior joined the 1,000 point club. He is the 17th Vandal to reach that benchmark in school history.
 
Four of the Vandals' five conference games this season have been decided by three points or fewer.
 
Idaho outrebounded EWU, 39-29. The Vandals recorded 14 offensive boards, tied for the most this season (Evergreen, Nov. 5).
 
This was the first game this season that Idaho reached 70 points but lost. They were 4-0 entering Thursday.
 
The Vandals were +1 in turnovers (12-13).
 
Idaho outscored EWU in the paint, 34-26.
 
The game was a double header – it was played following the Idaho and EWU women. The Vandals took the early matchup.
 
THE NAME
Trevon Allen. Allen led the Vandals with 23 points. The senior has scored in double figures in 12 games this year, leading the team in scoring 10 out of 16 games. With his first bucket of the night, Allen reached 1,000 points, and now sits at 1,022 points, which ranks 16th in school history. He also chipped in five rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

THE QUOTES – Zac Claus


 
UP NEXT
The Vandals travel to Montana to play the Grizzlies on Saturday, January 18. The game in Missoula is scheduled to tipoff at 6 p.m. pacific time.