Idaho No Problem For Weber State

Kirk Smith had 15 points and 12 rebounds to lead Weber State to a 73-56 Big Sky Conference men’s basketball victory over Idaho on Thursday night.

Weber State (3-2 Big Sky, 10-7 overall) led all the way, and the Vandals (1-3, 7-9) trailed 40-19 at halftime. Idaho, 0-5 on the road, has yet to lead on an opponent’s court this season.

“I’m embarrassed for our fans and for our team,” said Idaho coach Joe Cravens. “I thought we laid down, and that’s the worst thing you can say about a basketball team.”

In the first half, the Wildcats had all six of their 3-pointers and only two turnovers, while UI had 10 turnovers.

Ruben Nembhard scored 12 points and Jimmy DeGraffenried had 11.

The Wildcats extended their lead to 56-26 with 12:58 to play as Smith hit two foul shots.

Weber State coach Ron Abegglen then started playing his reserves.

However, Idaho outscored Weber 28-10 over the next 10 minutes, and the Vandals trailed 66-54 with 2:32 left. Shawn Dirden hit a 3 and two foul shots during the Vandals’ run.

Abegglen brought back Smith and DeGraffenried, and the Wildcats held the Vandals to two points the rest of the way.

The Vandals were led by Mark Leslie with 14 points.

Idaho forward Harry Harrison, who entered the game leading the conference with 11.2 rebounds per game, was battling illness. He finished with five points and eight boards.

Green pleads guilty: Former Idaho basketball player Jevon Green pleaded guilty to felony grand theft Wednesday in Latah County District Court. He’ll be sentenced April 12.

Green, a freshman guard from Nathan Hale High School in Seattle who played sparingly before running into legal trouble, was arrested in December for purchasing a stereo with a stolen bank card.

Weber State 73, Idaho 56

IDAHO (7-9)

Johnson 1-6 0-1 2, Dirden 4-15 3-3 13, Leslie 6-13 0-0 14, Gardner 3-7 5-8 11, Harrison 2-5 1-2 5, Baumann 0-1 0-0 0, Spike 1-1 2-2 4, Coates 0-0 0-0 0, Jones 3-6 1-2 7, Hay 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-54 12-18 56.

WEBER STATE (10-7)

K. Smith 4-10 7-8 15, Nembhard 5-19 2-3 12, DeGraffenried 4-6 1-3 11, Lofton 4-7 0-0 10, Lentfer 2-4 0-1 4, Nielsen 1-1 0-0 2, A. Smith 2-6 0-0 4, Tebbs 3-5 0-0 7, Thomas 0-1 0-0 0, Emery 2-3 3-4 8. Totals 27-62 13-19 73.

Halftime-Weber St. 40, Idaho 19. 3-Point goals-Idaho 4-17 (Leslie 2-6, Dirden 2-8, Johnson 0-3), Weber 6-15 (DeGraffenried 2-2, Lofton 2-3, Emery 1-2, Tebbs 1-2, Thomas 0-1, A. Smith 0-1, Nembhard 0-4). Fouled out-Gardner. Rebounds-Idaho 37 (Gardner 10), Weber 40 (K. Smith 12). Assists-Idaho 9 (Leslie 4), Weber 12 (Emery 4). Total fouls-Idaho 17, Weber 17. Technicals- Dirden. A-5,192.