Baumann’s 3-Pointers Lift Vandals Idaho Guard Forces Overtime And Hits Key Ot Shot For Win

Idaho was giving up size to Southwest Missouri State at almost every position, but the Vandals gave up little else Friday night.

Kris Baumann’s fadeaway 3-pointer with 4.9 seconds left forced overtime, sending a Kibbie Dome crowd of 3,506 into bedlam and propelling the Vandals to a 74-71 victory before a national television audience on ESPN2.

Baumann also came up big in OT, hitting the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:04 remaining. Idaho prevailed when Ryan Bettanhausen’s desperation 45-footer rimmed out at the buzzer.

“That’s typical Baumann - once you count him out he’s right there,” said Idaho point guard Avery Curry, who carried the Vandals through most of the second half.

With less than 10 seconds left in regulation, Baumann fired and missed a 3-pointer from the left wing. Undeterred, he chased down the rebound in time to hit the tying basket.

“The play was supposed to go to Avery, and if it couldn’t I was supposed to circle around to get it,” Baumann said. “They were double-teaming Avery so it came to me. “It just happened so quick. I got the rebound and just ran out to the 3-point line, faded out of bounds and it went it. I’m still shaking.”

It was a crucial victory for the Vandals (3-2), who had lost two straight, both on the road.

“It’s our greatest win, the greatest moment,” Baumann said. “I’ve never played with a better group of guys or a better coaching staff… . What we have here is special.”

SMS dropped to 3-5 with the defeat.

“I thought we controlled most of the second half,” said SMS coach Steve Alford, whose team used an 8-0 run for a 42-36 lead with 11:44 remaining. “But, like we have done a lot this year, we quit and broke down mentally.”

Curry led the Vandals with 28 points and six rebounds.

Baumann had 10 points. The senior made just 3 of 10 field goals and committed five turnovers. But he came through in the clutch.

“That took a lot of courage,” Curry said. “Just typical Chris, I think.”

Idaho 74, SW Missouri St. 71 (OT)

Southwest Missouri State (3-5) - Stringer 1-4 3-4 5, Moore 4-11 7-8 15, Nelson 4-6 5-8 13, Fontleroy 1-6 4-6 6, Kandlbinder 1-4 4-4 6, Coby 1-5 0-0 2, Bettanhausen 1-3 2-3 4, Ault 5-11 4-4 19, Rueter 0-1 0-0 0, Tshomba 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 18-51 30-39 71

Idaho (3-3) - Gray 3-10 2-2 8, Banks 3-4 1-1 7, Byrne 2-3 4-4 8, Baumann 3-10 1-4 10, Curry 11-20 4-7 28, Toal 0-2 0-0 0, Thompson 2-5 1-2 5, Tosi 3-4 0-0 6, Hampton 0-3 2-2 2. Totals 27-61 15-22 74.

Halftime - Southwest Missouri State 25, Idaho 25. Regulation - Southwest Missouri State 61, Idaho 61. 3-point goals - Southwest Missouri State 5-12 (Ault 5-10, Stringer 0-1, Kandlbinder 0-1), Idaho 5-13 (Baumann 3-6, Curry 2-6, Toal 0-1). Fouled out - Fontleroy. Rebounds - Southwest Missouri State 40 (Moore 10), Idaho 35 (Curry, Thompson 6). Assists - Southwest Missouri State 6 (Fontleroy 3), Idaho 7 (Banks 3). Total fouls - Southwest Missouri State 23, Idaho 25. Technicals - None. A-NA.

, DataTimes