Jackrabbits dash past Idaho

MOSCOW, Idaho – Kai Williams scored 24 points and South Dakota State University shot 55 percent from the field Wednesday night in picking apart Idaho 76-58 in non-conference men’s basketball at Memorial Gym.

Williams scored 15 points in the second half as the Jackrabbits (3-2) pulled away after leading 34-33 at halftime. SDSU closed out the game on a 26-9 run, including 14-1 over the final 5 minutes, 37 seconds.

During their final run, the Jackrabbits hit 5 of 8 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. Idaho went 0 for 7 from the floor and committed three turnovers.

Williams finished 10 of 14 from the field to lead his team’s 28-for-51 effort. Idaho (1-4) shot 38 percent from the field, including a 9-for-26 second half.

The Vandals defeated the Jackrabbits twice during last season’s four-win campaign.

“We had great looks at the basket and we didn’t make them, and that really hurt us,” said Idaho coach George Pfeifer. “We had better looks at the basket than they did, but we didn’t capitalize on them.”

Garrett Callahan added 16 points for SDSU.

Jordan Brooks led the way for the Vandals, scoring 24 points while hitting 8 of 15 from the floor and 8 of 11 from the line. Brooks scored 15 first-half points, but he picked up his fourth foul with 14:14 to play and sat for nearly 5 minutes.

Clyde Johnson came off the bench to score 12 for Idaho. Vandals starters combined to shoot 14 of 33 from the floor.

The Jackrabbits hit nine 3-pointers while Idaho struggled through 2-for-14 shooting from long range.