Points come easier for Vandals
MOSCOW, Idaho – In early November, Idaho men’s basketball coach Leonard Perry predicted this would be his best offensive team in his five seasons.
Now he has some evidence to back that claim.
The Vandals outlasted North Dakota State 76-71 on Wednesday at the Cowan Spectrum, breaking the 70-point barrier for the fourth time in five games. That hasn’t happened before during Perry’s tenure.
The Vandals shot 50.9 percent on the heels of a 60 percent effort against NAIA Eastern Oregon on Saturday, helping Idaho (3-6) to consecutive wins for the first time in 11 months. Nobody’s confusing the Vandals for Duke, and their competition will only get tougher as the season progresses, but the points have been coming a little easier of late – in transition, from the low block, on putbacks and beyond the 3-point arc.
Idaho had four players in double figures for the second straight game and the third time this season.
Speedy guards Keoni Watson and Tanoris Shepard triggered Idaho’s offense against the Bison (5-7), who are in the third year of a five-year reclassification process from NCAA Division II to Division I.
Watson scored a career-high 23 points and had five assists. Shepard added 11 points and four assists. They combined for six steals and an assortment of slashing drives that resulted in field goals or set up easy shots for teammates. Freshman forward David Dubois had 17 points and eight rebounds and Brett Ledbetter added 14 points.
“I thought we were able to use our quickness on the offensive end and get some easy baskets, which is like hitting the lottery for us,” Perry said. “Anytime we can put ourselves in a position to get easy baskets, that’s like a bonus for us.”
Ledbetter made two 3-pointers early, but the remainder of Idaho’s production in the first half came within the shadow of the basket. Desmond Nwoke, Igor Vrzina, Dubois and Ledbetter scored from the low post and when the Vandals shots didn’t fall they relied on seven offensive boards.
Idaho’s defense limited NDSU to 39 percent shooting and quickly converted four Bison turnovers into transition points.
UI led by as many as 17 in the first half and was up 37-26 at the break.
“The difference is I’m thinking more,” said Watson, a junior-college transfer who easily eclipsed his previous season high of 12 points against Eastern Washington. “Instead of going to get the play I let it come to me. I’m slowly learning the type of game it is (at the D-I level).”
NDSU came after the Vandals in the second half, repeatedly pulling within a basket of the lead. Each time, Idaho had a response, usually in the form of Watson or Shepard flying to the rim.
Idaho appeared vulnerable with post players Nwoke, Vrzina and Mike Kale in foul trouble and the Bison within 56-53, but Watson darted in for a layup.
That was the first of three Watson buckets that would answer NDSU field goals. His floater in the lane made it 68-60 with 2:58 left. The Vandals avoided taking the easy route, missing 7 of 11 free throws in the final 2:14, but Watson coaxed in four freebies to keep the Bison at bay.