SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Idaho (0-5) men's basketball team fell to the University of Utah (4-1), 79-41, on Friday evening to wrap up nonconference play.

THE GAME
Gabe Quinnett drained a three-pointer early on to put the Vandals up, 3-2, but the Utes immediately responded with a three-pointer of their own to regain the lead which they would not relinquish. Idaho had a tough time scoring in the first half, and entered halftime trailing Utah, 40-16.
 
Hunter-Jack Madden, making his first career start, scored the first points of the second half, but Utah would go on a 18-2 run to extend their lead. With under eight minutes to play, Scott Blakney scored five straight points for the visitors. The Utes would ultimately take the nonconference game, 79-41.
 
THE NOTES
Hunter-Jack Madden had his first career start in the game. He finished with two points, five assists, one steal, and six rebounds.
 
AJ Youngman made his first career appearance in a Vandal uniform. He finished with four points, going 2-for-2 from the floor.
 
Scott Blakney led the Vandals with 13 points. He was 5-for-5 from the free throw line and 4-for-6 from the floor. The senior has now scored in double figures in four of the Vandals' five games this year, and seven of his last nine games going back to last season.
 
The Vandals were outrebounded, 46-36. The Vandals had just one offensive rebound in their last game. Tonight, they had 12, including three by Tanner Christensen.
 
Christensen tallied three blocks for the Vandals. He also had six total rebounds and a steal. All three stats were new career highs.
 
Idaho shot 28.1 percent (16-for-57) from the floor, while Utah was 26-for-65 (40.0 percent). The Vandals were 4-for-23 (17.4 percent) from beyond the arc, while the Utes were 6-for-23 (26.1 percent).
 
The Vandals took their first free throw with 8:08 remaining in the second half. They finished the game 5-for-6 from the line. The Utes were 21-for-23 from the free throw line.
 
THE NAME
Damen Thacker. Thacker finished the game with 10 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. The senior had season highs in points, rebounds, and blocks.

THE QUOTES – Zac Claus
"[Utah's] physicality was something we were well aware of coming into this game. It's something that is well known about a Coach Krystkowiak led team. They played terrific. They took it to us from their defensive standpoint."
 
"[Timmy Allen] is as advertised… He did a great job… He's a force inside the paint."
 
"[Hunter] has done a job in practice. He's done a nice job in terms of taking care of the ball… and we wanted to mix things up a little bit and give him an opportunity."
 
"I knew he would, and Damen answered the bell… He more than anybody on the floor tonight competed until the very end. He was diving on the floor, trying to take a charge, still playing at a high level. We're going to need [Damen and Hunter] to keep playing hard and doing great things for us."
 
UP NEXT
The Vandals will be off for the next 13 days. Idaho will next be in action against Northern Arizona for the first home game of the season for the Vandals. The two teams will meet on December 31 in Memorial Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho men's basketball by following the team on twitter and Instagram, @VandalHoops.

For more information on Idaho Athletics, visit GoVandals.com.  Fans can also find Idaho on Twitter and Instagram, @Idaho_Vandals, or on Facebook by searching Idaho Vandals.