Vandals can’t run with Antelopes in 86-73 defeat

PHOENIX – A 20-3 Grand Canyon run midway through the second half was too much for the Idaho men’s basketball team to overcome Thursday night in an 86-73 loss in Western Athletic Conference play.

Idaho shot just 33.3 percent from the field in the first half and trailed 40-37 at the break. The Vandals used a 7-0 run early in the second half to briefly take a 45-43 lead, but Grand Canyon answered with its barrage of points to take control of the game with a 63-48 advantage with less than 11 minutes to play.

“We came out at halftime with some good adjustments and went up two and then they responded and we didn’t,” Idaho coach Don Verlin said. “When the heat of the game turned up they out-toughed us, they were more physical, they beat us to the punch, they played harder. The bottom line is they wanted it more than we did for whatever reason.”

Stephen Madison had 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists to lead the Vandals. He made 13 of 13 free throws, the third best single-game free-throw performance in Idaho history.

Grand Canyon 86, Idaho 73

 Idaho (8-13, 2-5)—Seck 2-7 2-4 6, Madison 2-10 13-13 17, Kammerer 1-1 2-3 4, Hill 5-12 0-0 12, M. Scott 5-11 4-4 15, Wiggs 4-9 2-7 10, Callandret 2-4 2-2 6, Mpawe 0-0 0-0 0, Jiles IV 0-0 0-0 0, Egbert 1-1 1-2 3. Totals 22-55 26-35 73.

Grand Canyon (8-10, 3-2)—Alexander 2-6 2-2 7, Davis 6-10 5-7 19, Larson 8-11 8-8 24, Daly 1-3 2-2 4, Garrison 6-10 16-20 30, Foreman 0-3 2-2 2, Estelle 0-0 0-0 0, Okugo 0-5 0-0 0, Zuilhof 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-48 35-41 86.

Halftime—Grand Canyon 40-37. 3-Point Goals—Idaho 3-12 (Hill 2-5, M. Scott 1-4, Madison 0-3), Grand Canyon 5-21 (Davis 2-4, Garrison 2-4, Alexander 1-3, Daly 0-2, Foreman 0-3, Okugo 0-5). Fouled Out—Egbert, Foreman, Madison, Seck. Rebounds—Idaho 33 (Madison 7), Grand Canyon 33 (Larson 11). Assists—Idaho 11 (Madison 3), Grand Canyon 12 (Daly 4). Total Fouls—Idaho 31, Grand Canyon 26. Technical—Zuilhof. A—4,201.