OGDEN, Utah – The Idaho men's basketball team (3-11, 0-4) knocked down 10 shots from three, but Weber State was able to force the Vandals into 19 turnovers to earn the 84-74 victory on Thursday night at the Dee Events Center.
"They stuck with what they do best," said head coach
Zac Claus. "They move the ball well, they take advantage of driving the ball hard to the rim and take advantage of scoring in the paint on some post touches. We have to give them a whole lot of credit for playing well."
Four Vandals scored in double figures on the night, including a game-high 19 points from
Mikey Dixon on 3-of-6 shooting from three. Dixon has tallied 16 or more points in nine games this season.
Rashad Smith had another strong night on the offensive end with 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
Trevante Anderson dropped 10 points and seven assists while
Philip Pepple Jr. scored 10 points off the bench.
The first half opened with a slow start by both teams, as Idaho led 5-4 through five minutes of action. The offense would eventually pick up with shots starting to fall, as both sides exchanged buckets until the seven-minute mark. Weber State found some separation after a Dillion Jones three to start a 10-4 run that would carry into halftime, as the Vandals trailed, 38-27.
Three ties and six lead changes occurred in the first 20 minutes of action while Weber State was able to gain their 11 point advantage later in the period by forcing Idaho into 10 first-half turnovers.
The Vandals trailed by as many as 18 in the second half but willed their way back to cut the deficit to eight points (76-68) with a little over two minutes remaining. The 'Cats answered with a three-point play by JJ Overton and a triple from Koby McEwen to put the game out of reach and earn the win, 84-74.
It was the first time the Vandals had their full squad back in action since the middle of December.
Nolan Bertain saw the floor for the first time since Dec. 18, scoring eight points in 11 minutes.
"It's been wonderful to practice a couple of days with everybody," said Claus. "I am thrilled for Nolan. He spent a long time watching shows, reading books, and trying to work out in his apartment to stay sharp. I give him a whole lot of credit."
Idaho's 10 for 23 mark from behind the arc was the fifth time this year a Vandal team hit 10 or more shots from three.
Next up: The Vandals look to end a three-game skid when they travel north to face in-state rival Idaho State on Saturday at 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
