MOSCOW, Idaho – The Idaho (0-6, 0-3 BSC) men's basketball team fell, 78-65, to Northern Arizona (2-6, 1-1 BSC) on Thursday evening. Idaho trailed, 33-32, at halftime.

THE GAME
After each team missed on their first possession, Damen Thacker nailed a three-pointer from the top of the key to put the Vandals on the board, 3-0. The home team continued to hold an edge, and with 11:52 until half, DeAndre Robinson made a long two from the corner to give Idaho a 14-7 lead, their biggest of the night. The Lumberjacks would not go away, and with just over five minutes to play, a Carson Towt layup gave NAU its first lead of the night, 26-25. The two teams would trade the lead over the remainder of the half, and the visitors held a 33-32 lead after the first half.
 
The first seven minutes of the second half were much the same, with the two teams battling for a foothold. A Ja'vary Christmas three-point play with 12:49 remaining tied up the game, 45-45. However, the Jacks used a 12-0 run to build a cushion. With 6:46 left in the game, NAU led by 18, 69-51. The Vandals used a 10-0 run of their own to get within single digits, but the visitors were able to fight off the comeback, and ultimately won the conference game, 78-65.
 
THE NOTES
A.J. Youngman had a career-high 10 points. He was 3-for-4 from the field, 2-for-3 from beyond the arc, and 2-for-3 from the free throw line. The junior also had two rebounds in 14 minutes of play.
 
Damen Thacker scored in double figures for the second consecutive game. He finished with 11 points, three rebounds, and three assists. He was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
 
The Vandals outrebounded the Lumberjacks, 38-34. Tanner Christensen led the way with six rebounds, while Ja'Vary Christmas and Babacar Thiombane both pulled down five. Christmas set a new career-high for boards.
 
Idaho shot 44.4 percent (24-for-54) from the floor, while NAU was 29-for-63 (46.0 percent). In the first half, the Vandals shot 52.2 percent (12-for-23).
 
The Vandals were 7-for-22 (31.8 percent) from beyond the arc, while the Jacks were 9-for-21 (42.9 percent).
 
The Vandals were 10-for-18 from the line. The Lumberjacks were 11-for-16 from the free throw line.
 
Idaho had 13 games off between tonight and their last game (Dec. 18). This was the longest break between regular season games since the 1999-2000 season, when the Vandals defeated Montana on December 11, and then fell to Mississippi State on December 29.
 
THE NAME
Gabe Quinnett. The sophomore led the team with 12 points. He was 5-for-8 from the floor and 2-for-4 from three. Quinnett also tallied two assists and two rebounds in 27 minutes of play.

THE QUOTES – Zac Claus
 
UP NEXT
The Vandals will have a rematch with the Lumberjacks on Saturday morning. The game is scheduled to tipoff at 11 a.m. in Memorial Gym.
 
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.