Idaho gets a win

We've had some fun at the expense of the Vandals at times so here's some payback: Coach George Pfeiffer's team nabs a league win over visiting Louisiana Tech.

Vandals down Bulldogs, 85-78
Courtesy: Idaho Athletic Media Relations
1/10/2008

MOSCOW, Idaho – Jordan Brooks and Mike Hall combined for 42 points and the University of Idaho men’s basketball team shot 51-percent from the floor in an 85-78 victory over Louisiana Tech Thursday.

The win was Idaho’s (4-10, 1-2) first of the early Western Athletic Conference schedule and its first ever over Louisiana Tech (3-11, 0-2).

“This was an offensive game,” Idaho coach George Pfeifer said. “It was definitely somebody trying to outscore somebody. What was impressive to me tonight was every time they made a run at us, we answered the run. We showed some patience of offensive.”

Clyde Johnson, who started his first game of the season, added a career-high 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting, which included a 3-of-3 performance from beyond the 3-point arc. Brooks added 10 rebounds to earn Idaho’s first double-double of the season and scored 11 of his 21 points from the free throw line. He also tallied five steals and four assists. Hall hit 50-percent of his shots from the floor and from beyond the arc and his four 3-pointers give him 21 in the last five games. Brandon Brown added 12 points off the bench.

The Vandals shot 29-of-57 from the field and 9-of-19 (.474) from beyond the arc. They also hit 18-of-24 free throws and outrebounded the Bulldogs by seven. Idaho also tallied just nine turnovers, which included just three at halftime.

Louisiana Tech scored first in the contest and the scored was tied three times in the first three minutes before Idaho pulled ahead for good at 8-6 with 16:28 remaining. The Vandals moved ahead by seven at the 11:32 mark but the Bulldogs fought back to tie the score on two occasions. With the score tied at 22, Idaho put together a 10-0 run and eventually moved ahead by 12 at 40-28 with 2:05 remaining. Louisiana Tech scored the final eight points of the half, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer, to pull within 40-36 at halftime.

The Bulldogs continued their streak and eventually scored 11 unanswered points to pull within 40-39 at the start of the second half. Idaho responded with six points and eventually moved ahead by 11 after hitting 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions. Idaho’s lead was 71-61 with 8:12 remaining when Louisiana Tech put together a 10-2 run to pull within 73-71 with 4:35 remaining. Idaho responded with the next four points and later hit 7-of-8 free throws in the final 1:04 to hold on for the 85-78 victory.