Craving Victory, UI Gets It Idaho Knocks Off Montana To Open Big Sky Tourney

As inspired as the Idaho Vandals played Thursday, one would suspect they were all - not just the head coach - playing for their jobs.

After denying Montana at least a share of the Big Sky Conference championship and perhaps the right to host the postseason tournament in a regular-season finale last weekend, resurgent Idaho sent the Grizzlies back to Missoula, 72-67, in a conference tournament opener.

And the Vandals may have salvaged coach Joe Cravens’ job before an audience of 5,827 at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse. At least for one more game.

Sixth-seeded Idaho (12-15) will take on conference champion and tourney host Montana State (19-8) tonight at 8:20 PST in the semifinals. In the earlier game at 6:07, No. 2 Weber State (19-9) will tangle with Boise State (15-12), a 66-54 survivor over Idaho State (11-15) in the late opener Thursday.

The semifinals will be broadcast live throughout the Pacific Northwest on Prime Sports.

Idaho 72, Montana 67

The Vandals had every reason to prepare season-ending speeches going into the game. Consider these:

They played without their leader, point guard and leading scorer Reggie Rose (13.9 points per game), who suffered a fractured elbow with 5 minutes remaining Saturday in an 84-75 win over Montana (20-7).

They had to prepare for the tournament as an ax is believed to be just a loss away from falling on their coach’s neck.

And they went into postseason play as underdogs because, among several reasons, few thought it possible for Idaho to beat Montana a second time in a matter of five days.

Equally odd is Idaho beat Montana despite shooting 32 percent from the field (lowest in a win all season) and being outrebounded (44-41).

“Something good was due to happen to this team,” said reserve sophomore guard Kris Baumann, who replaced Rose in the starting lineup. “This team has really stuck together. We’ve really rallied around each other - and around the coaching staff.”

Cravens answered the first question posed during the postgame interviews - “Coach, a big win for the program and possibly a big win for you personally?” - with the much-expected answer.

“I think that goes without saying.” Cravens said, ending that line of questioning quickly. “That’s all I’m going to say about that.”

Perhaps if the Vandals focus on the front half of the name of tonight’s opponent - Montana (State) - they can pull off the improbable.

After playing even for a half (31-all at intermission), both teams struggled offensively in the second half.

While the Vandals’ scoring drought was longer - they went 8 minutes between baskets - Montana’s proved fatal.

Jason Jackman made two free throws to extend Idaho’s lead to 45-39 with 14:13 remaining.

The Vandals would make four foul shots but wouldn’t score until Baumann made a spinning 13-foot turnaround jumper at the 6:37 mark.

Montana responded 23 seconds later when Shawn Samuelson hit a 7-footer to push the Grizzlies’ lead to 58-51.

But 16 straight points later, the Vandals led 67-58 with 2:28 to go.

Baumann stepped into Rose’s shoes and found a nice fit, especially during Idaho game-clinching run. He hit back-to-back 3-pointers, the second coming from 24 feet. He scored the ninth, 10th and 11th points of the spurt when he ducked under the arm of Kirk Walker on a spinning drive and banked the shot as he was fouled.

Montana’s final basket in the waning seconds was as close as it would get after Idaho’s run.

Baumann had a lot of help as four players scored in double figures. North Idaho College product Eddie Turner led with 16 points, while Baumann and Harry Harrison each had 15 and Shawn Dirden broke out of a scoring slump with 14. A fifth player almost reached double digits as Jackman had nine. Samuelson led Montana with 15.

“It was a struggle all night for both teams,” Montana coach Blaine Taylor said. “We made a nice run to come from I believe seven down to get up seven, and Idaho had the answer. We made a run and they had a chance to roll over and die and they didn’t. Give them credit.”

Idaho’s man-to-man and zone defenses caused the majority of Montana’s 19 turnovers while the Vandals committed a season-low nine miscues.

“Again I think it’s a real credit to the kids,” Cravens said. “They certainly had every reason the last couple of weeks to roll over and play dead.”

Boise St. 66, Idaho St. 54

The Broncos built a 10-point lead at halftime, and they held it for the final 20 minutes.

J.D. Huleen led three Broncos in double-figure scoring with 15 points. Scott Tharp came off the bench to score 13 and Shane Flanagan did likewise for 12. Workhorse Phil Rodman had nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Nate Green led the Bengals with 17 points.

BSU got its lead by making 11 of 24 from the field in the first half, 4 of 7 3-pointers. ISU, meanwhile, made just 8 of 24 (1 of 6 3-pointers) in the opening half. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

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