Idaho Fluffs Its Last Few Lines Vandals Follow Their Script For Victory, But Aggies Capture Defensive Struggle

It isn’t fluid, eye-catching or entertaining basketball.

But against upper-crust Big West Conference teams, Idaho has just one option: Play dogged defense, patient offense and hope for a shot to win.

Even following that script to the letter wasn’t enough on Sunday.

Idaho and Utah State engaged in a defensive death march in the Kibbie Dome, replete with iron-clanging jump shots and more air balls than highlight-reel offensive plays.

Just as the two coaches expected.

Utah State got two friendly whistles in the final 25 seconds and rode clutch free throws by flu-ridden Maurice Spillers and Marcus Saxon to a 55-52 victory.

“I knew it was going to be a low-scoring game,” said Idaho coach Kermit Davis, the former Utah State assistant under Larry Eustachy, the former Idaho head coach. Follow all that? “They know us so well offensively and we know them well.”

Eustachy, in his fourth season at Utah State, celebrated a hard-earned win that pushed the 10-4 Aggies to 3-0, first in the Big West’s Eastern Division.

The net result for 7-8 Idaho: An 0-2 Big West record, a foreboding season ahead or a surprising one - depending on one’s perspective - and disgruntled junior guard Derrick Elliott. More on Elliott later.

First, how Utah State won despite shooting 39 percent.

UI led 49-44, but Utah State pulled even on a 3-pointer by Duane Rogers.

Kris Baumann’s trey put Idaho back on top 52-51 with 1:35 remaining. Each team missed shots before UI’s Jason Jackman fouled Spillers.

Spillers, 2 of 6 from the line to that point and a 63-percent foul shooter on the year, made both free throws with 25 seconds left.

Idaho tried to run a play for Baumann, but he was defended too tightly. Instead, Elliott, back on the floor after being benched early in the second half, drove down the lane and was tagged with a questionable traveling call with 6 seconds left.

Saxon, a silky-smooth guard who scored 11 of his team-high 15 points in the second half, then added two free throws. Elliott missed a desperation 30-footer at the buzzer.

“We’re so close,” said Baumann, Idaho’s top scorer with 13. “We’ve got to make plays at the end, that’s all there is to it.”

Some plays at the end of the first half would have been nice, too, after Idaho led 24-15 on Elliott’s 3-pointer. In the final 3 minutes, though, UI missed three shots, one Elliott’s hurried 3-pointer with 20 seconds left as Davis was screaming, “ONE SHOT” from the sideline, missed two free throws and had a turnover.

The Aggies trailed just 24-21 at half and both teams’ zone defenses continued to dominate the second half.

With eight scholarship players, defensive mismatches, lack of penetrators and a size shortage, Idaho isn’t equipped for a full-court free-for-all.

“We want to press,” Davis said, “but this is just what we have to do.”

The good: The slow-down has kept Idaho in games against respectable foes - Utah State, Nevada, Eastern Michigan, Liberty.

The bad: All ended in narrow defeats.

The ugly: Of UI’s seven wins, four came against NAIA foes, one versus Division II a two versus D-I Idaho State.

Utah St. 55, Idaho 52

Utah State (10-4) - Rogers 4-10 0-1 10, Spillers 1-5 4-8 6, Smith 4-5 2-2 10, Saxon 5-14 3-6 15, Jones 2-6 0-0 3, Rice 4-6 1-1 9, Stewart 0-1 0-0 0, Isaacson 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 20-52 10-18 55.

Idaho (7-8) - Harris 4-6 0-0 8, Jackman 4-9 4-6 12, Baumann 5-13 0-0 13, Turner 1-5 0-0 2, Elliott 1-4 0-2 3, Thompson 5-8 2-2 12, Wendt 0-0 0-0 0, Byrne 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 21-47 6-10 52.

Halftime-Idaho 24, Utah State 21. 3-Point goals-Utah State 5-13 (Rogers 2-5, Saxon 2-3, Jones 1-4, Stewart 0-1), Idaho 4-14 (Baumann 3-9, Turner 0-1, Elliott 1-4). Fouled out-Jackman. Rebounds-Utah State 36 (Spillers, Smith, Saxon 7) Idaho 29 (Thompson, Harris 5). Assists-Utah State 2 (Jones, Rogers 1), Idaho 4 (Jackman 2). Total fouls-Utah State 13, Idaho 18. A-2,221.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo