Watson, Hopson spark renewed Vandals

MOSCOW, Idaho – A year ago at this time, Kashif Watson was at his second community college in two years and Mac Hopson was biding his time as a first-year Idaho transfer.

Now, the two newcomers are helping rejuvenate Vandals men’s basketball after years of frustration.

Watson poured in 18 points and Hopson scored 13 as up-tempo Idaho ran away from winless Texas Southern 67-46 in non-conference play Saturday afternoon at the Kibbie Dome.

At 6-5, the Vandals are off to their best start since 1997-98, when Dave Farrar’s club opened the season 9-4. They’re only two victories shy of last year’s win total heading into a home matchup with Palouse rival Washington State this evening at 5:05.

“We can’t worry about the past,” Watson, a 6-foot-4 guard, said. “That happened. All we can do is worry what happens right now. Now we want to get wins and go as far as we can.”

Hopson, a point guard who spent the 2006-07 season at WSU, piloted an efficient Idaho offense in the second half. The Vandals shot 62 percent in the final 20 minutes, with their first six field goals coming from layins or dunks. Several of those easy transition buckets came on dandy feeds from Hopson.

The junior from Portland finished with eight assists and two turnovers. His prettiest pass came when he glided down the court and found a lunging Watson near the rim as Idaho was pulling away early in the second half.

The Las Vegas product punctuated the play with a layup to put Idaho up 42-28.

“When we can get those guys running, they’re both athletic,” UI coach Don Verlin said of Hopson and Watson. “… That’s kind of the strength of our team is to get out and run them in the open floor.”

The Vandals shrugged off a shaky start, erasing an early 10-4 deficit with hot outside shooting. After going a combined 8 of 45 the last two games from 3-point range, Idaho hit 8 of 16.

The long-range proficiency was balanced, with the five of the nine Vandals who saw time connecting from outside.

The Tigers of Houston, who played their 11th straight road game to start the season, began to look weary after a brief spurt of energy to start.

Idaho coaxed 24 turnovers from TSU, which was coming off an 84-42 shellacking at No. 8 Gonzaga. The Tigers never wavered from full-court pressure defense, but the Vandals routinely broke through for gimmes near the basket.

“We’re best at getting up and down the court,” Watson said. “That’s what we do. We get the ball off the go and get the ball to our point guard and start going. It’s hard to stop us in transition.”

Today’s battle with the Cougars will present Idaho with its last big-time challenge before opening WAC play Jan. 3 at Nevada. The Vandals will travel to Idaho State on Dec. 29 for their final tuneup.

“Personally, I want to win,” said Hopson, who will face his old team for the first time. “But I’m not going to put any pressure on myself.”

Idaho 67, Texas Southern 46

 Texas Sounthern (0-11)—Hall 2-8 3-4 8, Miller 1-8 0-0 2, J.Jones 5-9 0-0 11, Boyles 3-6 0-0 6, Drewy 1-3 0-0 2, Ford 1-3 0-0 3, Ellis 0-1 0-0 0, Burrell 1-1 0-0 2, Henderson 3-4 0-0 7, Norwood 1-2 0-0 3, D.Jones 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 18-46 5-6 46.

Idaho (6-5)—Hopson 4-9 3-5 13, Simmons 2-4 0-0 5, Wiley 4-8 0-0 8, Watson 6-10 4-8 18, Jefferson 4-5 4-7 12, de Souza 2-4 0-0 6, Morris 2-3 0-0 5, Eisinger 0-1 0-0 0, Blackstock 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-44 11-20 67.

Halftime—Idaho 30, Texas Southern 21. 3-Point Goals—Texas Southern 5-12 (Henderson 1-1, Ford 1-1, Norwood 1-2, J.Jones 1-2, Hall 1-3, Ellis 0-1, Miller 0-2), Idaho 8-16 (Watson 2-4, Hopson 2-4, de Souza 2-4, Simmons 1-2, Morris 1-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Texas Southern 27 (J.Jones 8), Idaho 28 (Hopson 6). Assists—Texas Southern 9 (Miller 3), Idaho 16 (Hopson 8). Total Fouls—Texas Southern 20, Idaho 10. A—613.