Vandal freshman Scott steps up
From wire and news services
BOZEMAN, Mont. - Coach Don Verlin said early on every player, at some point this season, would be the catalyst for the Idaho Vandals.
Thursday night it was freshman Jordan Scott, who came off the bench for 13 key points in the Vandals' 80-71 Big Sky Conference men's basketball road victory.
His total was matched by senior Mike Scott, who also had 13. While they were the only two players to reach double figures, every Vandal who saw action scored and had at least one rebound in a total team effort.
It wasn't, however, without a scare. After a back-and-forth first half, the Vandals (9-11, 4-5 Big Sky) let Montana State (4-18, 1-9) loose in the early minutes of the second half as the Bobcats scratched out an 11-point lead. Verlin called a timeout and challenged his players.
"I got five guys that wanted to play hard," said Verlin of the timeout that triggered a 14-1 Idaho run and put the Vandals in command of the game. "Jordan Scott has been a great Vandal. He comes and he works hard every day in practice. I said everyone is going to help us win a game this year. Tonight was Jordan's night."
The Bobcats pulled within 68-65 with 2:44 remaining, but back-to-back baskets from Jordan Scott, and Idaho's 8-of-10 shooting at the line in the final minute clinched the win for the Vandals.
Verlin also had applause for a second-half defensive effort during which Idaho trimmed the Bobcats' shooting percentages to 31.3 from the field and 26.3 from 3-point range.
"It was nice to see those guys do that tonight," said Verlin in commending Idaho's defensive effort. "That was the key - we just played harder and faster."
Idaho, which struggled late in an overtime loss at Eastern Washington last Saturday, shot 80 percent from the line against the Bobcats. Mike Scott was 8 of 8 and Arkadiy Mkrtychyan was 6 of 8 as the Vandals were 20 of 25 overall. There were other highlights: Jordan Scott was 6 of 6 from the field and Connor Hill made three 3-point baskets to up his career total to 301.
Hill finished with nine points. His former teammate at Post Falls High, junior point guard Marcus Colbert, scored 13 for Montana State. Danny Robinson led the Bobcats with 18.
Idaho travels to Montana on Saturday.
IDAHO (9-11)
Wiggs 3-11 0-0 6, Hill 3-5 0-0 9, M. Scott 2-10 8-8 13, Seck 4-5 0-0 8, Mpawe 1-2 2-2 4, Callandret 3-6 0-0 6, Sanders 3-5 1-2 9, Mkrtychyan 1-2 6-8 8, George 1-1 0-0 2, Egbert 0-0 2-3 2, J. Scott 6-6 1-2 13. Totals 27-53 20-25 80.
MONTANA ST. (4-18)
Green 2-3 1-2 5, Brumwell 0-1 0-0 0, Dison 4-14 1-4 10, Frenchwood IV 3-6 0-0 9, Norman 1-8 1-2 4, Holm 4-7 0-0 12, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Colbert 4-8 2-3 13, Price 0-0 0-2 0, Robison 6-12 5-6 18. Totals 24-59 10-19 71.
Halftime_Montana St. 39-38. 3-Point Goals_Idaho 6-14 (Hill 3-4, Sanders 2-3, M. Scott 1-4, Wiggs 0-1, Callandret 0-2), Montana St. 13-37 (Holm 4-7, Frenchwood IV 3-5, Colbert 3-7, Robison 1-4, Norman 1-7, Dison 1-7). Fouled Out_Colbert, Frenchwood IV. Rebounds_Idaho 40 (Wiggs 8), Montana St. 31 (Robison 10). Assists_Idaho 15 (M. Scott 6), Montana St. 15 (Norman 8). Total Fouls_Idaho 20, Montana St. 23. A_1,477.