Victor Sanders helps Vandals through rough patches in win against Corban in season opener
MOSCOW, Idaho – The final score – 90-67 – suggests the Idaho men’s basketball team had no problem dispatching Corban University to open the season Saturday night.
A more accurate assessment: The Vandals had no problem when Victor Sanders was on the Memorial Gym court.
Sanders, the team’s leading scorer a year ago, showed his importance to Idaho as he navigated foul trouble and long spells on the bench.
The junior guard led UI with 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting in just 20 minutes of action. He and backcourt mate Perrion Callandret, who had 14 points, had five assists.
“Man, foul trouble. What can you say?” Sanders said. “I think I’ve just got to stay more disciplined on defense and be smarter on D overall because my team needs me out there.”
Sanders picked up his third foul with 16:30 left in the game and Idaho up 16. By the time he returned, at the 10:48 mark, the Vandals’ lead had shriveled to 56-47.
But no worries. Sanders quickly forced a turnover, assisted on a Brayon Blake dunk in transition and a few minutes later sank a 3-pointer to push UI’s advantage to 67-50.
“He’s arguably our best player, if not one of our best players,” coach Don Verlin said of Sanders. “And he has that threat of always being able to knock down the 3-point shot.
“We’ve got to do a better job — he’s got to do a better job — of making sure he doesn’t get in those positions of picking up a couple silly fouls.”
In the first half, Sanders didn’t miss a shot and dropped in 14 points. He sparked a 12-0 run late in the first half with eight straight points after an extended period on the bench with two fouls.
This was an exhibition game for Corban, an NAIA school in Salem, Oregon. Last week the Warriors lost 96-58 at Oregon State in an exhibition and are without two players, including starter Denis Kirichenko who tore his ACL.
“I’m definitely pleased,” first-year Corban coach Austin Johnson said. “I told our guys, ‘I think Idaho is going to play in the postseason, whether it’s the NCAA (tournament), NIT or something else.’ ”
Blake, a 6-foot-7 junior transfer from North Idaho College, finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds in his UI debut. After shaky start from the field, he flashed his athleticism with a blocked shot and dunk in the open court.
Ty Egbert provided Idaho with a nice lift off the bench, and freshman Trevon Allen from Clarkston had six points in his first collegiate game.
The Vandals broke open the game in the final 10 minutes and made six of their last seven shots from the field.
“I wouldn’t say (we were) worried,” Sanders said when asked about Corban hanging around. “I would say (we were) disappointed because we weren’t playing to the standard that we are holding ourselves to. But you’ve got to give them credit.”