“Believe in the process, believe in each other,” Head Coach Alex Pribble said on the Idaho Vandals Radio Network after snapping an eight-game losing streak.
When the Idaho men’s basketball team was on a six-game losing streak during the 2022-23 season, it was Montana State who ended it. In the 2023-24 season, the Bobcats once again ended a big losing streak for the Vandals as Idaho won 81-75 on Feb. 3.
Junior forward Juice Mims returned to his home state of Montana on Feb. 1 to take on the University of Montana, but it ended in a 73-70 loss. However, Mims wasn’t going to leave his large fan section empty handed as his 15 points and 14 rebounds were the most for either MSU or UI. According to Pribble, that fan section was around 70 people.
Following right behind Mims was D’Angelo Minnis. The senior guard finished with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and, despite what the commentators and LED screen said, only three personal fouls, not five.
While Mims and Minnis were the top scorers, there were three other Vandals joining them in double digits.
Junior forward Kyson Rose returned to the starting lineup and added 13 points. Meanwhile, redshirt junior forward Terren Frank exploded off the bench with 12 points and four rebounds and four rebounds. Finally, junior guard Quinn Denker rounded things off with 11 points and three assists.
While Idaho got its first win in Bozeman since 2015, it wasn’t like Montana State just handed it over. The Vandals had to fight until the very end to pull this off.
It was 31-30 in favor of Idaho at halftime, but this season, a one-point lead at the break has usually spelled doom for the Vandals. The Bobcats quickly regained the lead with a three from junior guard Tyler Patterson, but the 33-31 lead after 14 seconds came off the clock was the final lead they had.
Montana State tied it up a couple more times, but they could never quite get over the hump.
Junior forward Brian Goracke, who followed Head Coach Matt Logie from Point Loma, put up 10 points and two rebounds in the second half before fouling out with a total of 14 points. Meanwhile, redshirt senior guard Robert Ford III put up 12 points and four rebounds in the half. He also fouled out, but finished the game with 15 points and seven rebounds, the most for his team in both categories.
Now that the Vandals have ended their losing streak, and the first half of conference play, they’ll restart it against Sacramento State. Both teams enter the game tied for last place in the conference. They’ll tip off at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 5.
Meanwhile, the Bobcats will hit the road to take on the Bears of Northern Colorado at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb 8. Both teams will be looking to rebound after losses on their home court.
James Taurman-Aldrich can be reached at [email protected] or on X @jamesaldrich25