PORTLAND, Ore. – The Idaho (0-18, 0-15 BSC) men's basketball team fell to Portland State (7-9, 4-5 BSC), 84-64, on Thursday evening.

THE GAME
Both teams started quiet, with the Vikings holding a 4-0 lead just over four minutes into the game. With 12 minutes to play in the first half, Gabe Quinnett's second consecutive three-pointer made the score 11-10 in favor of the home side. PSU went on a 12-0 run and led, 23-10, with 9:14 remaining. The Vandals chipped away and got within four when Ja'Vary Christmas knocked down a trey with 4:51 to play. The teams traded baskets down the stretch of the period. A Hunter-Jack Madden layup with seven seconds remaining made the cushion four points, but a buzzer-beating layup by Ian Burke put the Vikings up, 37-31, heading into the break.
 
Portland State started the second half on a 10-2 run to put the home side back up by double digits. The Vikings remained in control for the half and ultimately won the first game of the home-and-home series, 84-64.
 
THE NOTES
Gabe Quinnett had 11 points, making three three-pointers. The sophomore has now scored in double figures in six of the last seven games.
 
Scott Blakney finished with 12 points, four rebounds, and an assist. It was the senior's ninth game in double figures this season. He was 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
 
The Vandals outrebounded the Vikings, 32-22. Babacar Thiombane led Idaho with a season-high seven rebounds. It was the senior's fifth time leading the Vandals in rebounding this year.
 
Hunter-Jack Madden dished out a career-high six assists. He is the third Vandal to tally six assists in a game this season, joining Damen Thacker and Ja'Vary Christmas, who has reached the mark twice this year.  
 
Idaho shot 51.2 percent (21-for-41) from the floor, while PSU was 28-for-56 (50.0 percent). The Vandals shot 68.8 percent (11-for-16) in the first half.  
 
The Vandals were 5-for-13 (38.5 percent) from beyond the arc, including a 5-for-6 (83.3 percent) mark in the first half, while the Vikings were 9-for-24 (37.5 percent).
 
The Vandals were 17-for-20 (85.0 percent) from the line. The Vikings were 19-for-25 (76.0 percent) from the free throw line.
 
THE NAME
Damen Thacker. Thacker led the Vandals with 16 points. He was 6-for-8 from the field and 4-for-5 from the free throw line. He also chipped in four rebounds and a steal.
 
THE QUOTES – Zac Claus
"We struggled to keep them from getting into the paint and make plays that way. We just weren't solid enough handling the ball on both ends of the floor."
 
"[In the first half] I thought our execution, we had some moments that it was really good. We were attacking the rim off the dribble. We were able to free up Gabe a few times off of easy pin down screens… At the same time, we were able to get some quality post touches for Scott."
 
UP NEXT
The Vandals return home to host Portland State on Saturday, February 20. The game is scheduled to tipoff at noon 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.