Wolf Pack Shoots Vandals Out Of Kibbie Dome, 78-67 Nevada Hits 66 Percent Of Shots As UI Loses Big West Opener

Idaho men’s basketball coach Kermit Davis was handed the stat sheet, eyeballed Nevada’s 66-percent shooting and folded the paper in half.

Sometimes statistics lie. Not this time.

“We just struggle, struggle, struggle,” Davis said after Idaho’s 78-67 loss to Nevada on Thursday night as 2,352 watched the Vandals’ inaugural Big West Conference game in the Kibbie Dome.

“Our whole problem is defensively. We need to be holding people in this league to 40 to 44 percent; 66 percent on your home court is unbelievable. It was our perimeter guys getting beat off the dribble. We go zone and we couldn’t get to their shooters.”

The Vandals dropped to 7-7 overall. Utah State (9-4, 2-0), fresh from an overtime road win over Boise State on Thursday, visits on Sunday at 1 p.m. Nevada is 7-5, 1-1.

Idaho, despite shooting just 38 percent, remained semi-close. From midway through the first half, Nevada’s lead fluctuated between 5 and 11 until the Pack built a 13-point edge in the final seconds. Idaho could never mount a rally because it couldn’t string together defensive stops.

“We shot the ball better and that makes you look better,” Nevada coach Pat Foster said. “It’s tough on the road when you play with a small lead. With a 12-to-15-point lead, you don’t feel as much pressure, but 5-to-10 is the hardest lead to play with.”

Nevada managed just fine. Idaho closed within 55-50, but the Wolf Pack countered on a Paul Culbertson layup. UI pulled to 63-58, but Nevada’s Jimmy Carroll buried a 3-pointer.

Carroll was essentially a no-show until his crucial 3-pointer and six free throws in the final 5 minutes. Culbertson, who turned down Fresno State to go to Nevada, had 13 points and, as importantly, contributed strong defense.

Idaho’s Jason Jackman had 21 points and 10 rebounds, several via all-out hustle plays in the second half. Kris Baumann nailed five 3-pointers and scored 19. But other than Jackman’s inside work and Baumann’s occasional 3, the Vandals offense was inconsistent. UI couldn’t cash in on some close-range opportunities and its errant shooting offset a decent effort on the boards and just seven turnovers.

“We could never get over the hump,” Davis said.

Nor could the Vandals defend Faron Hand and Tim Barnett. Hand, nicknamed “Meat” because of his 6-foot-7, 270-pound frame, has a bit of Seattle Sonic Sam Perkins in him - sleepy eyes, feathery shooting touch, unhurried running style and cool nickname (Perkins is “Big Smooth”). Hand scored 16, making 8 of 9 shots.

“Offense usually hasn’t been our problem,” Hand said. “We’ve worked more on our defense.”

Barnett was 4 of 4 on 3-pointers in the first half, bombing over Idaho’s Hand-conscious zone. Barnett’s 3 gave Nevada the lead for keeps at 23-20 and his next 3 pushed the margin to 37-26.

He did his damage before he was relegated to the end of the bench after a needless technical foul late in the first half. After calling a timeout, Barnett tossed the ball at UI’s Derrick Elliott, earning a tongue-lashing from Foster. Nevada led 39-32 at the half.

Idaho played fairly well in the opening 10 minutes, but was still tied 20-20. UI missed four straight shots, fell behind 27-20 and trailed the rest of the way.

Nevada 78, Idaho 67

Nevada (7-5, 1-1)- Culbertson 5-9 3-4 13, Hand 8-9 0-1 16, Morgan 3-5 3-4 9, Carroll 1-3 8-8 11, Brown 3-6 2-2 9, McLeod 0-0 0-0 0, Zapata 0-1 0-0 0, Allen 0-0 0-0 0, Barnett 4-4 2-2 14, Wilson 3-4 0-0 6, Pienkoski 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-41 18-21 78.

Idaho (7-7, 0-1) - Turner 4-11 0-0 8, Thompson 5-11 3-4 13, Jackman 7-13 7-9 21, Baumann 7-15 0-0 19, Eilliott 1-7 3-4 5, Harris 0-3 1-2 1, Wendt 0-1 0-0 0, Byrne 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-62 14-19 67.

Halftime score - Nevada 39, UI 32. 3-point goals - Nevada 6-11 (Culbertson 9-2, Carroll 1-2, Brown 1-2, Barnett 4-4), UI 5-15 (Baumann 5-12, Elliott 0-2, Harris 0-1). Total fouls - Nevada 16, UI 17. Fouled out - None. Technical fouls - Barnett, Idaho bench. Rebounds - Nevada 30 (Hand 9), UI 28 (Jackman 10). Assists - Nevada 10 (Carroll 3), UI 9 (Elliott 3).

, DataTimes