MOSCOW, Idaho – The Idaho (0-7, 0-4 BSC) men's basketball team lost an overtime heartbreaker, 83-78, to Northern Arizona (3-6, 2-1 BSC) on Saturday afternoon. Scott Blakney and Gabe Quinnett both set new career highs in points.

THE GAME
Scott Blakney got the game off on the right foot, scoring the first four points for the Vandals. The first half played out in similar fashion to the opening period of the first matchup between the teams on Thursday. Neither Idaho nor Northern Arizona was able to build a substantial edge, instead trading the lead back-and-forth. The largest lead held in the half was five, and the Lumberjacks led by three, 34-31, heading into the break.
 
Five minutes into the second half, the visitors began to pull away. NAU used a 13-2 run to lead by double digits. With 10:03 to play in the game, Idaho trailed by 12, 58-46. However, the Vandals used 13-2 run of their own, culminating in back-to-back three pointers by Gabe Quinnett, to tie the game up, 60-60, with 4:23 remaining. The final minutes of regulation were a back-and-forth affair. Each team made a three-pointer in the final 39 seconds, but the last second game-winner for Idaho was off the mark. After 40 minutes, the game was tied, 70-70.
 
The Vandals scored first in overtime, with Blakney making a bucket down low. However, with 3:37 to go, Blakney picked up his fifth foul, and the Lumberjacks took a three-point lead. The Vandals trailed by just one three different times in the final three minutes, but late free throws for NAU sealed the 83-78 victory for the visitors.
 
THE NOTES
The game was tied nine times and had 13 lead changes.
 
Damen Thacker had a season-high 17 points in 38 minutes played. The senior also had a career-high in assists (6) and a season high in rebounds (5).
 
Ja'Vary Christmas started his first career game. The senior tallied eight points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 34 minutes.
 
Gabe Quinnett scored a career-high 18 points. He was 4-for-6 from beyond the arc in the game.
 
The Vandals were edged in rebounds, 33-32. Blakney and Thacker led Idaho with five boards each.  
 
Idaho shot 50.9 percent (29-for-57) from the floor, while NAU was 29-for-62 (46.8 percent). The Vandals were 8-for-21 (38.1 percent) from beyond the arc, while the Jacks were 10-for-25 (40.0 percent).
 
The Vandals were 12-for-15 from the line. The Lumberjacks were 15-for-18 from the free throw line.
 
Babacar Thiombane was 6-for-6 from the free throw line. The senior was just 1-for-5 entering Saturday's game.
 
THE NAME
Scott Blakney. Blakney scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Vandals. He was 10-for-14 from the floor in 29 minutes of play. He also pulled down five rebounds, including two offensive boards. The senior added a steal and a block.

THE QUOTES –
Zac Claus


Damen Thacker

 
UP NEXT
The Vandals hit the road for a pair of games at Southern Utah. Idaho will tipoff at SUU on Thursday, January 7, at 6 p.m. pacific time.  
 
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.