Hill scores 28 in Vandals runaway
From news services
MOSCOW - Connor Hill didn't miss a shot in the second half as Idaho recovered from a 32-30 halftime deficit to secure an 87-76 victory over Portland State in a key Big Sky Conference basketball game Thursday in front of 1,232 at Cowan Spectrum.
Hill, the former Post Falls High standout, was six-for-six from 3-point range and made two crucial down-the-stretch free throws en route to a 28-point night. His eight total 3s for the night tie a career best as he went eight-of-nine from long range and nine-of-11 overall.
It was that kind of night for the Vandals (10-12, 5-6 Big Sky) who survived yet another scare after yet another slow stretch. This time it was a Portland State run that erased what had been a 12-point lead midway through the first half for the Vandals. Idaho's response this time was to out-shoot and out-hustle the Vikings (11-11, 5-7) in the second half as it had its best second half of the season with 57 points.
Hill admitted once he started hitting, he wanted more.
"If I've made five in a row," he said, "I want to take another one. If I make a few in a row, I'm looking to shoot again."
The credit, said Hill, went to his teammates, who, said Idaho coach Don Verlin, executed the plays the way they are drawn on the chalkboard.
"I have to give credit to my teammates," said Hill, who is second in the nation among active 3-point shooters. "They were finding me; looking for me. My teammates were just very unselfish tonight."
That was clear, Verlin said, in a quick glance at the stat sheet that showed 19 assists on the 30 baskets the Vandals made. Naturally, senior point guard and team captain Mike Scott was the leader with nine. He also had 16 points.
"That's good offense," said Verlin, making note of the assists. "That's a tribute to the guys. I was happy to see our offense execute that way and for Connor to knock down those shots."
As effective as the Vandals were, Portland State was not. The Vikings made just 39.2 percent from the field - 30.8 from 3-point range.
"I was really happy with the way we defended tonight," Verlin said. "We did some really good things in this basketball game."
One was balance throughout. In addition to all 10 players who played scoring, two - Sekou Wiggs and Bira Seck, had eight rebounds each and Arkadiy Mkrtychyan had seven. Wiggs also had four assists and Perrion Callandret blocked two shots. And, they made 16 of 19 free throws.
"It was a good team win for us," Hill said. "Yeah, it was good."
Gary Winston scored 23 points for Portland State.
Idaho hosts Sacramento State on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Cowan Spectrum.
PORTLAND ST. (11-11)
Winston 9-19 1-2 23, Gengler 1-6 0-0 3, Spickerman 2-4 0-0 4, Tucker 2-9 2-4 6, Wiggins 5-14 1-1 13, Sweeney 3-7 2-3 9, Douglas 0-4 0-0 0, Bamba 7-11 4-6 18. Totals 29-74 10-16 76.
IDAHO (10-12)
Wiggs 3-9 3-4 9, Hill 9-11 2-2 28, M. Scott 4-9 7-7 16, Seck 2-4 0-0 4, Mpawe 3-5 0-0 6, Callandret 1-3 2-2 5, Sanders 1-2 0-0 3, Mkrtychyan 3-4 2-4 8, Egbert 1-2 0-0 2, J. Scott 3-3 0-0 6. Totals 30-52 16-19 87.
Halftime_Portland St. 32-30. 3-Point Goals_Portland St. 8-26 (Winston 4-11, Wiggins 2-6, Sweeney 1-2, Gengler 1-4, Douglas 0-3), Idaho 11-17 (Hill 8-9, Callandret 1-1, Sanders 1-2, M. Scott 1-3, Wiggs 0-2). Fouled Out_Seck. Rebounds_Portland St. 36 (Bamba, Tucker 7), Idaho 35 (Seck, Wiggs 8). Assists_Portland St. 12 (Winston 4), Idaho 19 (M. Scott 9). Total Fouls_Portland St. 18, Idaho 22. A_1,232.