The Idaho Vandals went to Sacramento, California, on Saturday, Feb. 21, to take on the 9-18 Sacramento State Hornets. After the Vandals played them earlier in the season at home and won by ten points, the 15-13 Vandals had a lot of momentum going into the game. This game was a lot closer than the previous matchup, although Idaho came out on top 86-80.
To start off the game, Idaho took a strong lead in the first five minutes of the game leading the Hornets 22-11. Senior guard Biko Johnson scored 15 points in just the first seven minutes of the game. This boosted the Vandals momentum a lot and gave them the spark they needed to stay ahead for most of the first half.
Sacramento State went on a ten-point scoring run after Idaho took an 11-point lead, and this tightened the gap in the game to 22-21. After that, the game stayed close and halftime ended with the Vandals only up by two points, 42-40.
The second half of the contest was a very tight matchup, and the Hornets took their first lead of the half early on, 48-47 after a three pointer from senior guard Prophet Johnson. This tension between both teams going back and forth continued for the rest of the game.
In a high scoring game, the score was 80-78 with just one minute left in the game. Senior forward Brody Rowbury knocked down a three-pointer with 29 seconds left in the game, adding to his 14 points and six rebounds cementing the win for the Vandals.
The Vandals set some long-time records tonight in the rebounding category. With a total of 49 rebounds, this was the most that the Vandals basketball team has seen since 2016 against a Division One opponent. On top of that, they outrebounded the Hornets by 21.
Johnson had yet another amazing night, scoring 25 points and going 6-11 from behind the three-point line. Johnson also had nine rebounds, which was just one away from a double-double. Freshman forwardJackson Ramussen added 18 points, reaching the second all-time points scored in Idaho Vandals history, which marks a historic moment for the future of Ramussen and the team.
The Vandals are over a 0.500-win percentage this season sitting at 15-13, and this is the best the Vandals have been quite some time. The Vandals will come home to ICCU Arena for their final two home games this season against Northern Arizona Lumberjacks and Northern Colorado Bears.
The Vandals and Lumberjacks will tip off from ICCU Arena on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 6 p.m.