Men's hoops continue to struggle

Although senior Dandrick Jones' outstanding effort yielded a career high 32 points on the night, Idaho tripped in Pocatello and dropped another close game, this time a 74-70 loss at the hands of Idaho State. Idaho has lost its last 3 games (to Washington State, Boise State, and now Idaho State) by a combined total of 8 points.

From the Official University of Idaho web-site

POCATELLO, Idaho – Dandrick Jones’ heroic effort went for naught Wednesday night after a couple of late-game blunders sent the Idaho Vandals to their seventh successive loss, 74-70, to Idaho State University.

It was Jones who tied the game at 68 with 3:05 to play to set the stage for a comeback from a 10-point deficit midway through the second half. The teams traded possessions before things began to unravel for the Vandals. It started when Armend Kahrimanovic’s entry pass was stolen by Doug D’Amore. D’Amore went the length of the court for the layup and was fouled by Kahrimanovic in the process. He converted the free throw with 1:17 to play for a 71-68 lead – not a comfortable margin but one that sent the Vandals into scramble mode.

Jerod Haynes missed a 3-point attempt on the Vandals’ next possession. Lionel Davis had the rebound but he stepped out-of-bounds and the ball went to the Bengals with 1:02 to go. Doug Hardy, who was fouled by Haynes as he attempted a layup, converted one of the free shots for a 72-68 ISU lead with :28 remaining.

The Vandals had another chance to trim the lead when Haynes was fouled on a 3-point attempt. He missed the first, but made the next two to bring the Vandals to within two, 72-70, with :21 to play. On the in-bounds pass, D’Amore was fouled by Tanoris Shepard. He made both for the 74-70 lead with :20 to go.

A trio of missed 3-point shots by the Vandals with the final rebound going to Jesse Smith, who was fouled by Davis. Smith missed both free throws but the outcome already had been determined.

“It didn’t go our way,” said UI coach Leonard Perry, whose post-game interview was laden with the word “frustrated.”

A large portion of his frustration was brought about by the Vandals’ interior play. While ISU’s interior players were rolling along with a combined 48 points and 10 rebounds, the Vandals could counter with only nine points and 11 rebounds. The best effort from that group came off the bench from true freshman Mike Kale, who had four points and seven rebounds. Idaho’s top rebounder was another true freshman – Haynes, the 6-1 point guard, who had eight.

“I have to do a better job in practice to get this team to execute defensively,” Perry said. “We didn’t three-quarter in the post like we’ve rehearsed for the last 48 hours.”

Another frustration was the untimely turnovers, particularly the one that led to D’Amore’s three-point play.

“Worst-case scenario, they make it a two-point ballgame,” Perry said. “But to foul him just doesn’t make sense. It’s something I have to find the answer to.”

All of that overshadowed what will remain one of the best efforts ever by a Vandal. Jones’ 32 points ties for 16th on UI’s all-time single-game list. To that, he added six rebounds and four steals in 35 grueling minutes.