Idaho’s season-long battle with consistency showed up again Thursday night in Bozeman, and this time there was no late-game miracle to erase it.
The Vandals (13-10, 5-5) dug themselves into an early hole against Montana State (14-10, 8-3) and never fully climbed out, falling 73-66 after the Bobcats seized control in the opening half and refused to give it back. MSU built a 26-10 lead in the first 15 minutes, forcing Idaho into yet another uphill fight, a script that has become all too familiar as the calendar inches closer to March.
Idaho never led in the contest, despite several second-half pushes that briefly tightened the margin. The Vandals have made a habit this season of pairing one sharp half with one sluggish half, and head coach Alex Pribble has acknowledged that playing less than a full 40 minutes leaves his team with little room for error.
The Bobcats delivered the first major blow with a 15-2 run that flipped a competitive start into a double-digit deficit. Montana State’s defensive activity set the tone all night, as the Bobcats racked up 10 steals and consistently disrupted Idaho’s rhythm, particularly from beyond the arc.
Inside the paint, Idaho actually held the advantage, outscoring Montana State 44-32. But the Vandals’ perimeter struggles proved costly. Idaho shot just 4-19 from three-point range, continuing a season-long trend: when opponents keep the Vandals from finding a groove from deep, Idaho’s offense becomes far easier to contain.
Redshirt sophomore guard Kolton Mitchell scored a game-high 21 points on 9-18 shooting. It marked his eighth 20-point performance of the season. Mitchell did commit five turnovers, but his ability to generate offense kept Idaho within striking distance for much of the second half.
Senior guard Isaiah Brickner nearly recorded a double-double, finishing with 10 points and nine rebounds while battling on the glass throughout the night. Junior forward Seth Joba provided an efficient lift as well, scoring 10 points on 4-5 shooting and grabbing four boards.
Montana State’s depth made the difference. Six of the eight Bobcats who logged minutes scored at least eight points, allowing MSU to stay productive even as rotations shifted. Their trio of starting guards, Patrick McMahon, Jed Miller and Jeremiah Davis (11), combined for 40 points.
Off the bench, Seth Amunrud was perfect from the field, going 5-5 and scoring 11 points in a highly efficient outing that helped Montana State maintain separation.
For Idaho, the night also included a milestone. Redshirt junior guard Jack Payne surpassed the 500-point mark for his collegiate career, becoming the sixth member of the current Vandals roster to reach the threshold.
Earlier this year, Idaho pulled off the largest comeback in program history against this same Montana State team, erasing a 21-point deficit in a Jan. 10 victory.
Idaho is not a group that panics when trailing. The Vandals have proven they can rally, adjust, and make late-game pushes. That confidence could be valuable in the pressure cooker of the Big Sky Tournament, where momentum can swing quickly.
However, if Idaho wants to make a serious March run, the formula is clear: fewer slow starts and more complete performances.
The Vandals play in Missoula against the Montana Grizzlies (13-11, 7-4) on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 3 p.m.