Vandals ride big-shot Mike Scott to win over Weber State
MOSCOW, Idaho – While teammates were swarming and jumping on Mike Scott, the senior Vandals point guard stood stoic and glared down the basket. Moments earlier, he sniped in a 70-foot halftime buzzer beater from the Big Sky logo on the far side of the court that sent the Cowan Spectrum into a frenzy, and sent Idaho into the locker room leading by six.
The miraculous heave proved to have monumental implications as Idaho held on to defeat visiting Weber State 86-84 Saturday night at the Cowan Spectrum to finish its opening weekend of Big Sky Conference play at 2-0.
Or maybe it wasn’t miraculous. Idaho coach Don Verlin knew coming in that these are the moments that can swing games.
“I told them that’s the reason we practice half-court shots,” Verlin said. “That’s the reason why you do that, that’s the reason why you throw that up there, because it could be the difference in the game.”
Scott didn’t even think it was going to go in at first, maybe explaining his staring contest with the basket after it tickled the nylon.
“Once it got close to the rim I was like, ‘This is about to go in,’ ” Scott said.
It’s debatable whether those three points were the biggest of the game for Scott, because with 24 seconds remaining in a game tied at 84-84 the ball was placed in Scott’s hands again.
Verlin called for Scott to move to his left, looking for his shot while being aware of Connor Hill coming off of a screen. The clock ticked down to 3 seconds when Scott made a step back and let it fly from the left elbow.
Swish. Again.
“I’m the first option that play but the whole time I’m thinking I have to get Connor (Hill) a shot,” Scott said. “They locked in on Connor, I came off the second screen and Sek (Sekou Wiggs) was open, but when I (made my) step back, I knew it was going in.”
More chaos ensued when Jeremy Senglin’s own half-court heave at the final buzzer hit the backboard and hit the floor. After 18 ties and 19 lead changes, Idaho emerged victorious.
“Absolutely it’s a big game, Weber State is picked to win the conference, they’re the defending Big Sky champions,” Verlin said. “(Weber State coach) Randy (Rahe) has done an unbelievable job there. They’re all big, this one especially big, because we thought they were a really good basketball team.”
Wiggs’ career-high 22 points helped Idaho keep pace with Weber’s furious second-half comeback attempt. The sophomore from Seattle went 7-of-9 from the field and 8-of-10 from the free throw line.
“Whenever I can get to the basket I see a lane I take it,” Wiggs said. “That’s something that’s worked for me my whole life, that’s something I can always go to. Sometimes I just put my head down and go when it goes.”