Vandals Vile, But Winners Despite 31 Turnovers, Idaho Whips N. Texas
(From Replay, February 7, 1998): The University of Idaho men’s basketball team plays New Mexico State tonight in Moscow.
The basketball game couldn’t end fast enough. And because it didn’t, North Texas supplied a fitting exclamation point when Pooh Davis clanked a dunk attempt in the final minute.
Idaho, despite 31 turnovers and 41 percent shooting, still managed to defeat North Texas 85-72 before an understandably docile gathering of 2,785 Thursday at the Kibbie Dome.
Basketball purists in attendance were shielding their eyes, but this one must be graded on a curve.
“Ugly,” Mean Green coach Vic Trilli said. “Just really ugly. And probably due 90 percent to us.”
Yes, North Texas dragged Idaho into this mess of turnovers, wretched passing and iron-bruising shots. To their credit, the Vandals weren’t dragged into the losing column.
Idaho, 11-8 overall, improved to 5-4 in the Big West Conference with a key date against New Mexico State on Saturday night. The Vandals share third place with Boise State, which defeated New Mexico State (14-9, 4-5) on Thursday. The top four teams qualify for the Big West Tournament.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever coached a team with 31 turnovers, which I think tomorrow morning when we practice we’ll probably go over that a little bit,” UI coach Dave Farrar said. “That, and the simple act of communication.”
North Texas (3-16, 2-7) shot and shot and shot, but rarely disturbed the net. Sometimes UNT didn’t disturb the rim with airball 3-pointers. The Mean Green play uptempo at every opportunity, created in part by a leaky trapping defense, but made just 34 percent from the field.
That’s not unusual. North Texas came in with only one player shooting more than 39 percent. The Mean Green pressed most of the way, which led to bundles of easy UI baskets and turnovers.
“They played hard defensively,” said Idaho’s Troy Thompson, who scored a season-high 21 points. “But we could have easily beat it if we had communicated and got in the right spots.”
It was the first time in 10 games Avery Curry wasn’t Idaho’s leading or co-leading scorer. He had 16 points, but the gaps in North Texas’ defense left Thompson and Clifford Gray alone in the paint.
Gray had 17 points and 14 rebounds - a category Idaho won 63-34.
The Vandals moved in front for good when North Texas went 6 minutes without making a field goal midway through the first half. Idaho turned a three-point deficit into an eight-point lead.
“That’s the worst half, that’s the worst game we’ve played, by far, all year,” Trilli said. “We were just completely exhausted.”
But not so tired to get into some verbal exchanges. The last 10 minutes deteriorated into a foul fest and were borderline out of control.
Idaho shot 44 free throws, making 33.
UNT’s David Miller and Chuck Thrash each fouled out, picking up technicals along the way.
“We got a little frustrated,” Trilli said.
So did Idaho.
“We didn’t come out with any enthusiasm,” Thompson said.
Idaho’s Kris Baumann had the flu and didn’t play.
Idaho 85, North Texas 72
North Texas (3-16, 2-7) - Washington 5-12 2-2 13, Miller 1-4 1-2 4, Thrash 3-8 2-5 8, Davis 2-8 1-3 5, Atkins 0-2 0-1 0, R. Washington 3-7 0-0 7, Cooper 3-6 0-0 7, Schofield 2-8 6-8 12, Peyton 1-7 2-2 4, Harvey 4-9 1-2 10, Forteau 0-0 0-2 0, Moeller 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 24-71 17-29 72.
Idaho (11-8, 5-4) - Gray 5-8 7-10 17, Banks 4-10 1-2 9, Tosi 1-4 1-2 3, Curry 4-13 7-9 16, Toal 2-5 6-7 11, Miller 0-2 0-0 0, Thompson 6-13 9-12 21, Hessing 0-1 0-0 0, Byrne 2-4 2-2 6, Hampton 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 25-61 33-44 85.
Halftime-Idaho 45, N. Texas 38. 3-Point goals-N. Texas 7-24 (C. Washington 1-1, Miller 1-2, Davis 0-3, R. Washington 1-3, Cooper 1-2, Schofield 2-5, Peyton 0-4, Harvey 1-4), Idaho 2-6 (Banks 0-1, Curry 1-3, Toal 1-2). Fouled out-Miller, Thrash. Rebounds-N. Texas 34 (C. Washington 11), Idaho 63 (Gray 17). Assists- N. Texas 7 (Atkins 3), Idaho 18 (Toal 8). Total fouls-N. Texas 31, Idaho 22. Technical-Schofield. A-2,785.
, DataTimes MEMO: Cut in the Spokane edition.