MOSCOW, Idaho – The Idaho men's basketball team held Eastern Washington to its lowest shooting percentage in conference play but the Eagles used a late second-half surge to help defeat the Vandals, 73-66 on Saturday afternoon at ICCU Arena.

In front of a record-setting 3,310 fans, the Vandals put together one of their best defensive efforts, holding the Big Sky's best shooting teams to 39 percent (23-59) from the field. 

Two Vandals finished the day in double figures. Forward Isaac Jones ultimately led the way with 18 points and nine rebounds, while guard Divant'e Moffitt followed with 14. 

 

PUT 'EM ON A POSTER#GoVandals | @_ijonez pic.twitter.com/dSzZhxrQ3p

— Idaho Basketball (@VandalHoops) February 12, 2023

It didn't take long for the Vandals to grab an early advantage, controlling the start of the game with an opening 10-4 lead with 17 minutes to play. Eastern immediately responded with a 6-0 run to even the score. Idaho grabbed its largest lead of the game at the nine-minute mark (20-13), but it was again EWU tying the score at 22-22. 

The lead exchanged hands two more times as the Eagles grabbed a slight advantage heading into halftime up 31-30.  

EWU opened the second stanza with six straight points to go up seven (37-30) but it was the Vandals quickly responded to make it a one-possession game after a 5-0 run led by five points from Dominique Ford. From there, neither team held more than a two-possession lead until under the two-minute mark. 

A crucial 8-0 spurt put the Eagles up 67-60, but Idaho answered making it a three-point game at two different points with under a minute to go.

 

Tough finish 💪

Vandals are within one possession.#GoVandals | @DMoffitt_3 pic.twitter.com/WmCg26Jw6e

— Idaho Basketball (@VandalHoops) February 12, 2023

 

 

Sheeeesh 😮‍💨#GoVandals | @DMoffitt_3 x @nigelburris8 pic.twitter.com/DlLYqLvGGk

— Idaho Basketball (@VandalHoops) February 12, 2023

It was the Eagles (19-7, 13-0), however, who had the advantage last, getting a couple of stops and using crucial runs to hold on for a 73-66 victory. 

The Vandals struggled to find any kind of consistency shooting the basketball as EWU held the home team to 37.5 percent (21-56) from the field and 16 percent (4-25) from three. Despite the shooting inconsistencies, Idaho took advantage from the charity stripe with a 91 percent (20-22) effort from the foul line.

Up Next
Idaho now sets its sights on two home games next week, when Northern Colorado (Feb.16) and Northern Arizona (Feb. 18) come to Moscow. 

POSTGAME WITH ZAC CLAUS