MOSCOW, Idaho – The Idaho (0-11, 0-8 BSC) men's basketball team fell, 75-61, to Northern Colorado (7-6, 4-4 BSC) on Saturday afternoon. Scott Blakney tied his career high with 23 points.

THE GAME
Scott Blakney scored the first four points of the game, and the Vandals and Northern Colorado battled back-and-forth for much of the first half. Idaho led by as many as five points, but the Bears battled back to take the lead. The visitors eventually pushed their edge out to 10 points, 31-21, with six minutes remaining in the half. However, the Vandals responded with a 9-0 run to narrow the cushion to one. UNCO led by three, 37-34, at the break.
 
The two teams traded baskets to begin the second half, but with just under 13 minutes remaining, the Bears began to slowly build an advantage. The Vandals fought to keep within touching distance, and a poster dunk by Blakney and the ensuing free throw narrowed the lead to five points. However, a 7-2 run put Northern Colorado up by double digits. A pair of free throws by Kur Jockuch with 7:49 left gave the visitors as 16-point lead, their biggest of the game, and UNCO would ultimately take the Big Sky game, 75-61.
 
THE NOTES
Damen Thacker had 13 points, reaching double figures for the seventh consecutive game. The senior also recorded two rebounds, three assists, and one steal in a team-high 34 minutes of play.
 
Idaho and Northern Colorado each had 31 rebounds. Babacar Thiombane and Tanner Christensen each tallied six boards. Christensen tied his career high which he set in the last game.  
 
Idaho shot 42.0 percent (21-for-50) from the floor, while UNCO was 27-for-56 (48.2 percent).
 
The Vandals were 1-for-10 (10.0 percent) from beyond the arc, while the Bears were 11-for-25 (44.4 percent).
 
The Vandals were 18-for-20 (90.0 percent) from the line. The Bears were 10-for-13 (76.9 percent) from the free throw line.
 
Damen Thacker was 4-for-4 from the free throw line and has now made his last 28 foul shots. Hunter-Jack Madden, making his return from injury, was 2-for-2 from the charity stipe and is now a perfect 15-for-15 from the line this season.
 
THE NAME
Scott Blakney. Blakney tied his career high with 23 points. He was 8-for-11 from the field and 7-for-8 from the free throw line. He pulled down three rebounds, including two offensive, and also chipped in one steal.

THE QUOTES – Zac Claus
 
UP NEXT
The Vandals enter a bye week. Idaho will next host Weber State on January 28 and January 30 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.