Idaho stops second-half run to beat Eastern Washington 83-76
MOSCOW, Idaho – As a rivalry battle, this measured up.
Idaho turned back Eastern Washington University 83-76 in Big Sky Conference play Saturday.
The Vandals made an early bid to pull away and overcame an Eagles second-half run, EWU cut Idaho’s lead to 72-68 with about 4 minutes to play and was within five points with less than a minute to go.
Kristian Gonzalez, who led the Vandals with 20 points, finally held back the Eagles with 40.2 seconds remaining. He scored on a drive, was fouled by Nic McClain and converted a free throw to push Idaho’s advantage to 79-71 .
When he lined up the free throw, Gonzalez said the basket “looked pretty big.
“I just trusted in my work,” he said. “We put up 200 free throws this week.”
The game was played as the second half of a doubleheader. The Idaho women opened with a 67-57 victory over EWU.
Idaho coach Alex Pribble said the Vandals men (8-10, 3-2 Big Sky) are learning to close out games.
“(Gonzalez) is no longer playing like a freshman anymore,” Pribble said.
The Vandals had to go the final 5 minutes without big man Julius Mims. He contributed 14 points and six rebounds before persistent leg cramps drove him off the court.
“Julius was cramping all day today,” Pribble said. “He gave us every ounce of energy he had.”
The Eagles are 6-12, 2-3 in the conference.
“Credit Eastern Washington,” Pribble said. “(Their second-half zone) took us out of our rhythm.”
Eagles coach Dan Monson is the son of former Idaho coach Don Monson, who went 100-41 between 1978-83 and led the Vandals to a top-10 ranking and the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
“Having his dad in the stands today meant a lot, as well,” Pribble said.
The Vandals played before their largest crowd of the year. While it didn’t test the capacity of the 4,000-seat ICCU Arena, the 2,485 in attendance were enough to put hundreds in the upper tier of seats, and they were fully engaged in the game.
Pribble credited the crowd with helping the Vandals survive EWU’s second-half effort to reduce Idaho’s 38-26 halftime lead. The Eagles outscored the Vandals 8-2 to trail 47-43, highlighted by Andrew Cook’s driving layup and free throw after being fouled, and McClain’s corner 3-pointer.
But Idaho responded with a 7-2 run as Mims scored down low, Gonzalez put up a floater and Tyler Linhardt sank a 3-pointer.
“Our fans brought us through that,” Pribble said.
EWU’s Mason Williams led all scorers with 21 points. Cook followed with 18 points, McClain 13 and Emmett Marquardt 11.
Idaho was 15 for 15 at the free-throw line, and it had 17 assists. The Vandals also enjoyed balance from their starting lineup.
Behind Gonzalez and Mims, Jack Payne contributed 13 points, Tyler Mrus 12 points and six rebounds, and Kolton Mitchell 11 points and five boards.
“It was Idaho at our best,” Pribble said.
The Vandals head to Missoula on Monday to take on Montana.
Eastern plays at Montana State the same night.