Shepard to play final home game with UI

Senior Night festivities won’t last too long tonight. The University of Idaho men’s basketball team only has two seniors, third-year walk-on Jason Rose and four-year starter Tanoris Shepard, as it prepares for its home finale against Hawaii at 7 in Memorial Gym.

“I wish I could come back one more year and get this thing right as far as winning games,” Shepard said, “but I’ve enjoyed my stay here.”

Shepard has made the most of his time. He ranks 10th in career points (1,070), tied for third in assists (281), fifth in 3-pointers made (119), sixth in 3-pointers attempted (355), 12th in steals (83) and 10th in field-goal attempts (919).

Idaho finished 8-22 a year ago and is 4-20 this season.

“I’m really proud of what he’s done in terms of leadership and going through what we’ve gone through,” Idaho coach Leonard Perry said of Shepard, his first recruit five years ago. “He didn’t have to come back. He already had his degree. I don’t think there’s a Vandal alum anywhere in the country that doesn’t feel the same way about him as I do. He’s what it’s about, for all coaches.”

Shepard would like to finish on a positive note.

“Like I tell them in the locker room, something will give for us,” he said. “It’s been hard because I want to win more than anything, but I think you go through everything in your life for a reason. So I’ll take it and move on and I think it’ll make me a better man.”