The Idaho Vandals (9-6, 1-1) suffered their first Big Sky Conference loss of the season on Thursday night, falling at home 79-73 to the defending Big Sky Tournament champions, the Montana Grizzlies (9-7, 3-0).
Montana junior guard Money Williams delivered a dominant performance that proved to be the difference. After scoring 13 points against Idaho in last season’s Big Sky Tournament semifinal blowout, Williams erupted with 35 points to go along with five assists and three rebounds.
Montana had four players in double figures, as graduate forward Te’Jon Sawyer went an efficient 7-for-10 from the field to score 16 points, freshman forward Kenyon Aguino added 13 and redshirt freshman forward Tyler Thompson had 10.
Despite the loss, Idaho showed resilience throughout the night, mounting its largest comeback of the season after trailing by as many as 18 points in the first half. The Vandals were led offensively by a balanced scoring effort, marking the ninth time in 15 games this season that four or more Vandals have scored in double figures.
Idaho freshman forward Jackson Rasmussen led the Vandals with 16 points and seven rebounds, while senior forward Brody Rowbury finished with 15 points and seven boards of his own. Senior guards Isaiah Brickner scored 14 points and Biko Johnson scored 11, while redshirt sophomore guard Kolton Mitchell scored 10.
The game began in disastrous fashion for Idaho. Montana’s offense found its rhythm immediately, opening the contest on a 17-2 run by the first media timeout. Montana’s hot start ballooned the lead to 18 points at 36-18, threatening to put the game out of reach before halftime.
The Vandals settled in and began to chip away at the deficit. Improved ball movement and defensive rebounding helped Idaho stabilize the game, holding Montana in check long enough to mount a comeback.
Idaho came out of the locker room with renewed energy, gradually clawing back into the contest. By the 13-minute mark, a pair of Mitchell free throws brought the Vandals within seven.
The Vandals got into a groove during a late 12-2 run, sparked by a massive three-pointer from Mitchell off a missed free throw. The sequence jump-started Idaho’s best stretch of the night, as a Rowbury layup gave the Vandals their first lead of the game.
With the contest hanging in the balance in the final minute, Montana once again delivered when it mattered most. The Grizzlies retook the lead on a Williams jumper with 24 seconds remaining, then sealed the victory at the free-throw line after Idaho was unable to convert on its final possessions.
The Grizzlies shot 50% from the field compared to Idaho’s 39%, while also displaying sharper ball movement throughout the night. Idaho struggled from beyond-the-arc and at the free-throw line, ending a streak of 60 consecutive games with five or more made three-pointers.
Rebounding remained a bright spot for Idaho, as the Vandals out-rebounded Montana 41-32. It marked the 12th time in 15 games this season that Idaho has won or tied the rebounding battle, an area of consistent emphasis for the program.
Idaho will look to bounce back on Saturday, Jan. 10, when they host the Montana State Bobcats (9-7, 3-0) at 2 p.m.