Hill's shooting ignites Vandals

by From wire and news services
| December 4, 2011 8:00 PM

DAVIS, Calif. - Freshman Connor Hill, the former Post Falls High standout playing in just his fourth college game, hit five 3-pointers and scored 17 points off the bench as Idaho's men's basketball team rolled to a 94-74 victory over UC Davis on Saturday.

Hill was 6 of 8 from the field, 5 of 6 from 3-point range in just 12 minutes for Idaho (4-3).

The Vandals shot a season-high 56.1 percent from the field, connecting on 32 of 57 shots, including 12 of 20 3-pointers. Idaho finished with a season-high 24 assists and a season-low 10 turnovers.

"It was a good win for us. We shot the ball extremely well," Idaho coach Don Verlin said. "We got rolling, Landon (Tatum) did a good job of getting the ball to the right people. This was our best executed game to this point. When you have 24 assists and 10 turnovers you played pretty well offensively."

Sophomore Stephen Madison had career-highs with 19 points and eight rebounds, and Landon Tatum had a career-best nine assists and added six points. Kyle Barone had 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting and added four rebounds. Dazmond Starke had a career-high nine points on 4-of-6 shooting, and also had six rebounds and two assists.

Idaho led by as much as 22 points, and was up 54-34 with 15 1/2 minutes left. Davis cut it to 66-56 with under 12 minutes left but the Vandals answered with a 12-3 run.

Eddie Miller scored a game-high 22 points for UC Davis (1-7), including 4 of 4 from 3-point range.

Idaho plays host to Washington State on Wednesday.

IDAHO (4-3)

Madison 6-12 4-4 19, Faines 1-1 0-0 2, Barone 5-9 5-9 15, Tatum 1-4 4-6 6, Geiger 5-7 4-4 18, Starke 4-6 1-2 9, Habeeb 2-3 0-1 4, Hill 6-8 0-0 17, McChristian 2-4 0-0 4, Borton 0-1 0-3 0, Kammerer 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 32-57 18-29 94.

UC DAVIS (1-7)

Adenrele 1-2 2-5 4, Howley 1-4 1-2 3, Ritchart 4-7 1-1 10, Corbin 2-7 4-4 9, Les 4-10 0-0 12, Mancasola 1-3 0-0 2, DuPont 3-4 3-4 9, Miller 6-8 6-6 22, Malik 0-0 0-0 0, Tiffin 1-2 1-1 3. Totals 23-47 18-23 74.

Halftime_Idaho 43-30. 3-Point Goals_Idaho 12-20 (Hill 5-6, Geiger 4-6, Madison 3-6, Habeeb 0-1, Borton 0-1), UC Davis 10-22 (Miller 4-4, Les 4-10, Corbin 1-2, Ritchart 1-3, Mancasola 0-1, Howley 0-2). Fouled Out_Adenrele. Rebounds_Idaho 31 (Madison 8), UC Davis 25 (Tiffin 5). Assists_Idaho 24 (Tatum 9), UC Davis 13 (Corbin 4). Total Fouls_Idaho 21, UC Davis 23. Technicals_Starke, Miller, UC Davis Bench. A_882.