Pillow’s 3-pointers hurt Vandals

CONWAY, Ark. – Marcus Pillow scored 24 points – 21 on 3-pointers – to lead Central Arkansas to a 65-49 non-conference men’s basketball win over Idaho on Wednesday.

The Bears (8-1) held a 30-24 lead at halftime.

Michael Crowell scored 14 points for Idaho (1-6), and Jordan Brooks added six points and eight rebounds. The Vandals shot just 32 percent from the field.

“The way this game turned out wasn’t what anyone was looking for,” Idaho coach George Pfeifer said.

“The effort was there and our players did a lot of what we asked of them tonight. Pillow was making 3-pointers no matter what we tried to do to stop him.”

Idaho scored the first five points of the second half and again trailed 32-31 with 18:33 remaining.

Pillow then hit his fifth and sixth 3-pointers of the night as Central Arkansas used a 10-0 surge to move ahead 42-31 with 14:49 remaining.

Idaho responded with a 7-2 run to cut the lead to 44-38, but Trevor Morris’ 3-pointer at the 12:46 mark was Idaho’s last field goal until there was 1:26 remaining in the game.

Central Ark. 65, Idaho 49

Idaho (1-6) – Crowell 3-9 7-8 14, Augusto 1-4 0-0 2, Nagle 2-7 1-4 5, Br.Brown 3-5 1-2 8, Brooks 3-13 0-0 6, Johnson 0-4 0-0 0, Hall 1-2 0-0 3, Simmons 0-1 0-0 0, Morris 4-9 0-0 9, Kale 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 18-55 9-14 49.

Central Arkansas (8-1) – Sims 6-10 0-0 12, Nevels 6-16 0-0 12, Marks 1-2 0-0 2, Bowie 3-11 4-6 11, Pillow 7-10 3-5 24, Silverman 0-0 0-0 0, Brewer 1-2 1-2 3, Cannon 0-2 1-2 1, Haymaker 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-53 9-15 65.

Halftime – Central Arkansas 30-24. 3-Point Goals – Idaho 4-17 (Br.Brown 1-1, Hall 1-1, Crowell 1-2, Morris 1-5, Simmons 0-1, Brooks 0-1, Johnson 0-2, Nagle 0-4), Cent. Arkansas 8-21 (Pillow 7-9, Bowie 1-5, Nevels 0-2, Cannon 0-2, Sims 0-3). Fouled Out – None. Rebounds – Idaho 33 (Brooks 8), Cent. Arkansas 35 (Sims 8). Assists – Idaho 10 (Brooks 3), Cent. Ark. 12 (Bowie 4). Total Fouls – Idaho 14, Cent. Ark. 15. Technical – Marks. A – 1,845. A – 1,845.