Theo Lawson
Argonaut
Coach Don Verlin preached revenge during practice this week and that’s exactly what the Vandal men’s basketball team got during a 74-66 win over San Jose State Thursday in the Cowan Spectrum.
After the Spartans ended Idaho’s NCAA Tournament hopes at the 2011 WAC Tournament, Idaho utilized offensive rebounds and a red-hot shooting hand to keep San Jose State winless in conference and extend its home WAC win streak to three games.
“We knew we had to pick up our defensive intensity but I think more than anything we just needed to wear them down and I thought we did that as the half wore down,” Verlin said. “I thought we kept getting there on their shooters and contesting their shots and we just kind of wore them down as the game went on.”
The Spartans began the game convincingly as freshman guard DJ Brown scored eight of San Jose State’s first 10 points. Idaho proved guarding the perimeter is still an issue as the Spartans converted five of 10 first-half attempts.
A back-and-forth first half saw the lead change eight times and though the Spartans led by as many as nine, Idaho managed to gnaw the lead down to one as a Deremy Geiger 3-pointer sent the Vandals into the locker room trailing 37-36.
The Spartan sharpshooters were 51.9 percent from the field in the first half, while Idaho followed closely at 51.7 percent.
Idaho sought an offensive rhythm within minutes of the start of the second half through Geiger and junior center Kyle Barone. Geiger netted consecutive 3-pointers while Barone knocked down multiple jumpers to propel Idaho to a convincing 7-point lead.
The Spartans closed the Vandal lead to one but freshman Connor Hill hit his third 3-point shot of the game to return the lead to four.
Bandoumel, Barone and Stephen Madison found themselves in foul trouble late but Geiger became the savior once again and another three from the Las Vegas native helped Idaho to an 8-point lead.
“It was just teammates finding me open, setting screens and me having confidence to knock it down,” Geiger said. “It’s good that I made the seven 3s, but even better that we won the game.”
San Jose State’s Keith Shamburger sent an elbow to Bandoumel’s head, and following a timeout was called for a flagrant foul and immediately ejected.
Bandoumel said he wasn’t fazed by Shamburger’s physical play.
“We had the ball, I turned around and he elbowed me in the face. … He was what, 1 for 8 tonight, so I don’t care,” Bandoumel said.
The Spartans went ice cold from beyond the arch in the second half and ended the game 7-27 from 3-point range.
Bandoumel and Barone recorded double-doubles, for Bandoumel it was a career first. Despite four fouls, Barone proved essential in the paint, shooting 8-14 with 21 points. His 11 rebounds were also a game high.
“I definitely played good and I expect that out of myself every game. I’ve just been kind of down on myself maybe a little too much … Djim was telling me every time, ‘They can’t stop you,'” Barone said. “I have to come with that mindset every game.”
All 21 of Geiger’s points came from 3-point range as the senior went 7-10 from 3-point range.
The Vandals prepare for another rapid WAC turnaround and host Hawaii Saturday at 8 p.m. The Rainbow Warriors were 3-3 in the WAC and 11-9 before visiting Utah State Thursday night. Preseason WAC Player of the Year candidate and University of Arizona transfer Zane Johnson leads Hawaii with 15.8 points per game.
Johnson has scored 20-plus points on four occasions this season and tallied a season-high 29 points in the Warriors’ 91-87 over New Mexico State.