Vandals get first win as Shepard leads way

MOSCOW, Idaho – Senior guard Tanoris Shepard had 14 points to lead a well-balanced Idaho scoring attack, and the Vandals picked up their first victory of the season, defeating Southern Utah 75-60 in a non-conference men’s basketball game Saturday.

Idaho (1-4), which avenged last season’s 82-53 loss at Southern Utah, also received 13 points from junior guard Brett Ledbetter, 12 from freshman forward David Dubois and nine from junior guard Keoni Watson.

Southern Utah (1-6) was led by senior guard Rand Janes and senior post Lubor Olsovsky, who finished with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Southern Utah opened the game with a 7-3 spurt, but Idaho matched the Thunderbirds shot-for-shot over the next several minutes, and the Vandals eventually tied the score at 20 with a Shepard 3-pointer.

Watson came up with a steal and uncontested layup on Southern Utah’s next possession, giving Idaho a lead it would never relinquish.

By the time the Vandals’ scoring burst was over, they had reeled off a 10-0 run in just less than 3 minutes and led 23-22.

Idaho continued to build on its advantage from there, taking a 37-28 lead into intermission and stretching its lead to as many as 18 points in the second half.

Southern Utah pulled within 12 points on two occasions over the final 10 minutes, but could get no closer.

The victory snapped a 16-game Idaho losing streak dating back to last season. The Vandals’ 75 points matched their highest output since a 84-67 victory over Cal Poly last Jan. 6, a span that covered 21 games.

Idaho outrebounded Southern Utah, led by Igor Vrzina’s eight.

Idaho 75, Southern Utah 60

Southern Utah (1-6)—Uhegwu 1-7 1-3 3, Barnes 3-9 0-0 8, Allen 3-8 1-4 7, N.Janes 3-4 0-0 6, Bonzano 2-2 0-0 6, Olsovsky 4-6 5-6 13, Marek 1-1 0-0 3, Davis 0-0 0-0 0, R.Janes 5-6 0-0 14, Abrahao 0-0 0-0 0, Bonfim 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-43 7-13 60.

Idaho (1-4)—Watson 4-12 0-0 9, Shepard 4-5 4-5 14, Ledbetter 4-9 2-4 13, Vrzina 3-8 2-4 8, Dubois 5-8 0-1 12, Forge 2-2 0-0 6, Jakovljevic 0-2 0-0 0, Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Nwoke 1-2 3-4 5, Kale 4-4 0-0 8. Totals 27-52 11-18 75.

Halftime—Idaho 37, Southern Utah 28. 3-point goals—Southern Utah 9-16 (R.Janes 4-5, Bonzano 2-2, Barnes 2-6, Marek 1-1, Uhegwu 0-1, Allen 0-1), Idaho 10-19 (Ledbetter 3-6, Forge 2-2, Shepard 2-3, Dubois 2-4, Watson 1-2, Vrzina 0-1, Jakovljevic 0-1). Fouled out—N.Janes. Rebounds—Southern Utah 20 (Allen, Uhegwu 4), Idaho 32 (Vrzina 8). Assists—Southern Utah 11 (Barnes 4), Idaho 11 (Watson 6). Total fouls—Southern Utah 18, Idaho 14. A—1,012.