UI Beats Montana, Loses Rose

Big Sky

It can no longer be said that the Idaho men’s basketball team has forgotten how to win, as evidenced by an 84-75 cuffing of Montana on Saturday night in Moscow, Idaho.

Now celebrating a victory - well, they could use a refresher.

“We didn’t even know how to act,” Idaho coach Joe Cravens said, laughing. “We were just kind of sitting around.”

Hey coach, it’s been a while.

Prior to the win in front of 3,245 at the Kibbie Dome, Idaho had lost eight of nine games.

Nonetheless, Cravens wasn’t taking any chances. The embattled coach sternly reminded Shawn Dirden to quit clowning around and tend to business with about 20 seconds left and UI on top 80-72. The victory had a number of spin -off effects:

It moved Idaho (11-15 overall, 5-9 conference) into the Big Sky Tournament with a bit of momentum, though UI found out midway through the second half it had qualified because Northern Arizona lost to Weber State. Idaho is the sixth seed.

It set up an Idaho-Montana rematch Thursday night at 7:30 PST in the tournament’s first round in Bozeman, Mont. Boise State, which defeated Idaho State on Saturday, also has a rematch with ISU.

It prevented Montana (20-7, 10-4) from sharing the league title with Montana State. And due to a tie-breaking criteria, Montana dropped to the third seed while Weber State claimed the second seed and a first-round bye. Montana State also has a bye.

“Blaine (Taylor, Montana coach) said (after the game), ‘You probably needed the win more than I did,”’ Cravens said. “That was a really classy thing to do. I wish he’d say that after the next game.”

Leading the way on senior night, appropriately, was senior Harry Harrison, who had 19 points and 18 rebounds in his final Kibbie Dome performance.

It was also junior night as UI’s Jason Jackman (14 points), Reggie Rose (15 points) and Eddie Turner (14 points) contributed fine efforts.

And even a sophomore stepped up as Marvin Thomas had five points, eight rebounds and was a pest defensively.

There was one giant spoiler to the evening, however, as Rose fractured and dislocated his elbow after a drive and layup with 5:22 left. He’s out for the season.

Tied 32-32 at half and 50-50 with 9:15 left, Idaho pulled away when Jackman struck for eight points in a 4-minute stretch.

“It helps to hit a couple and get in a groove,” said Jackman, who had been in a scoring slump after being a consistent point producer in the first half of the season. “I think we just got some breaks and we played relaxed and had fun.”

Jackman’s burst helped stake UI to a 65-54 lead. Montana pulled within eight points, but could get no closer.

“We didn’t come out with the intensity and desire we needed,” Montana forward Shawn Samuelson said.

“Anytime you let their forwards catch that ball down low and allow their guards to penetrate, you’re in for a long night,” said Grizzlies guard Shane Belnap, who had 21 points and made 13 of 16 free throws.

Idaho 84, Montana 75

Montana (20-7) - Samuelson 3-8 1-2 9, Covill 2-3 0-0 4, Bowie 3-8 1-2 9, Dade 3-4 2-4 8, Walker 3-10 2-2 9, Belnap 3-8 13-16 21, Spoja 1-8 1-2 3, Seidensticker 0-1 0-0 0, Smith 6-11 0-2 12, Dick 0-1 0-1 0. Totals 24-62 20-31 75.

Idaho (11-15) - Jones 1-3 0-0 2, Harrison 6-13 7-9 19, Gardner 2-4 1-3 5, Rose 5-11 4-7 15, Dirden 2-3 0-0 4, Baumann 1-4 4-7 6, Thomas 2-3 1-2 5, Turner 2-5 10-10 14, Jackman 6-10 2-3 14. Totals 27-56 29-41 84.

Halftime-Idaho 32, Montana 32. 3-Point goals-Montana 7-27 (Samuelson 2-5, Bowie 2-5, Walker 1-5, Belnap 2-6, Spoja 0-6), Idaho 1-6 (Rose 1-3, Dirden 0-1, Baumann 0-2). Fouled out-Covill, Dade, Walker, Baumann. Rebounds- Montana 36 (Spoja 8), Idaho 42 (Harrison 18). Assists- Montana 11 (Belnap 4), Idaho 8 (Baumann 3). Total fouls- Montana 31, Idaho 24. A-3,245.

Boise St. 65, Idaho St. 62

J.D. Huleen scored 11 points, including two key baskets in the final 2 minutes to break a 59-59 deadlock, and grabbed 10 rebounds for BSU.

ISU (11-14) - Artis 2-7 0-0 4, Harwell 1-3 0-1 2, Brown 6-6 1-4 13, Preston 2-5 1-2 5, Green 8-14 4-12 20, Lee 5-10 3-3 18, Tarver 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-46 9-22 62.

BSU (14-12) - Washington 2-7 2-5 7, Wyatt 3-9 2-4 11, Rodman 2-5 3-3 7, Tolman 2-6 0-0 5, Hulleen 5-9 1-3 11, Flanagan 3-6 1-3 8, Hagman 0-0 0-0 0, Tharp 2-4 0-0 5, Van Kirk 0-0 3-6 3, Walk-Green 0-0 0-1 0. Totals 23-52 12-25 65.

Weber St. 101, N. Arizona 64

In Flagstaff, Ariz., Jim DeGraffenried had 25 points as the Wildcats (19-9, 10-4) pounded the Lumberjacks (6-20, 3-11).

Weber State (19-9) - Tebbs 4-4 2-2 12, DeGraffenried 9-10 2-2 25, Smith 6-8 0-0 12, Emery 3-4 0-0 8, Cuff 2-8 0-0 4, Ketcham 1-3 0-0 2, Baskersville 6-8 1-2 14, Hicks 2-5 0-0 4, Fisher 4-5 0-0 12, Nielsen 1-1 0-0 2, McIntire 0-0 0-0 0, Haws 3-4 0-0 6. Totals 41-60 5-6 101.

NAU (6-20) - McNair 5-11 1-1 14, Bowden 5-10 1-1 11, Ten Berge 2-3 2-4 6, Thomas 3-6 0-0 9, Riley 2-10 3-4 7, Flores 0-0 0-0 0, Burns 1-2 0-0 2, Abbott 1-5 3-3 6, Marter 0-1 0-0 0, Frank 4-6 1-1 9. Totals 23-54 11-14 64.

, DataTimes