Eustachy’s Aggies End UI’s Tournament Hopes

Kermit Davis enjoys a close friendship almost as much as he dislikes losing.

That’s probably why the Idaho men’s basketball coach had such a difficult time sorting out his feelings following Thursday night’s 69-58 Big West Conference loss to Utah State.

The defeat snuffed out Idaho’s chances of earning a berth in the Big West’s postseason tournament and left Davis extremely disappointed.

But the blow was softened by the fact that it came at the hands of his close friend and longtime coaching companion Larry Eustachy, who has his Aggies (17-7, 10-3 in the Big West) on a roll and atop the Eastern Division standings.

“It’s not any fun,” Davis said after his Vandals fell to 12-15 and 4-9. “You hate to play Larry … and when the Vandals aren’t playing the Aggies, we’ll sure pull for them.”

UI, which left point guard Reggie Rose home with a sore knee, got 17 points and nine rebounds from Eddie Turner and 11 points from sophomore Kevin Byrne.

But the Vandals couldn’t overcome the lack of production from center Jason Jackman, who was held to just eight points, and guard Kris Baumann, who finished with four.

Marcus Saxon scored 16 points to pace a quartet of double-figure scorers for Utah State.

Utah St. 69, Idaho 58

Idaho (12-15, 4-9) - Baumann 2-11 0-0 4, Thompson 5-8 0-0 10, Jackman 3-9 2-2 8, Elliott 3-9 0-0 8, Turner 8-16 1-2 17, Harris 0-3 0-0 0, Byrne 4-5 3-3 11. Totals 25-61 6-7 58.

Utah State (17-7, 10-3) - Rice 3-5 2-2 9, Spillers 4-7 3-3 11, Smith 3-5 8-12 14, Saxon 6-13 4-6 16, Jones 1-4 0-1 3, Geddes 3-6 2-2 10, Stewart 0-1 0-0 0, Isaacson 3-4 0-0 6. Totals 23-45 19-26 69.

Halftime-Utah St. 38, Idaho 32. 3-Point goals-Idaho 2-15 (Elliott 2-7, Baumann 0-6, Turner 0-1, Harris 0-1), USU 4-8 (Geddes 2-4, Rice 1-1, Jones 1-2, Saxon 0-1). Fouled out-Utah St., Rice. Rebounds-Idaho 30 (Turner 9), USU 32 (Spillers 10). Assists-Idaho 13 (Baumann 5), USU 11 (Spillers, Saxon 4). Total fouls-Idaho 20, USU 12. A-5,206.

, DataTimes