D-II Northwest Nazarene bumps off Vandals

by From news services
| November 24, 2018 12:00 AM

BOISE — Idaho’s opening game of the Vandal Holiday Hoops Showcase did not go as planned, with Idaho falling to Division II Northwest Nazarene, 77-73, on Friday night before 1,817 at CenturyLink Arena.

Adonis Arms scored 21 points to lead Northwest Nazarene of Nampa.

Idaho (1-3) took a 33-27 lead into the break behind 12 from Trevon Allen and 10 from Cameron Tyson.

The Vandals would add to their lead in the second, getting up by as many as nine on two separate occasions. But the leads would be short-lived, with the Nighthawks battling back with a flurry of 3-pointers to claim the lead midway through the half.

NNU was able to take a 10-point advantage at 72-62 before a late run from the Vandals. Idaho closed on a 12-5 run, but it wasn’t enough.

Idaho’s Trevon Allen stepped out of his early season funk on Friday night, scoring a game-high 24 points on 10-of-18 shooting. He also had two assists and two steals.

Tyson knocked down five 3’s for the fourth straight game. Prior to Tyson, only once had a true freshman hit five 3s in a game (Connor Hill of Post Falls High). Tyson has now done it in all four games he has played.

Idaho plays UC Santa Barbara tonight at 7 at CenturyLink Arena.

NORTHWEST NAZARENE (1-0)

Diaz 4-7 0-0 10, Adetunji 4-5 0-4 8, Bezzant 1-8 0-2 2, Arms 8-13 4-6 21, Megwa 6-13 3-4 16, Furgerson 0-0 0-0 0, White 1-1 1-2 3, Franks 0-1 0-0 0, Nelson 2-5 0-2 5, Prvulj 1-1 0-0 2, Burkett 0-3 4-4 4, Roth 2-3 0-1 6. Totals 29-60 12-25 77.

IDAHO (1-3)

Blakney 2-3 4-4 8, Rodriguez 4-6 0-0 8, Tyson 5-9 4-5 19, West 2-8 2-3 6, Allen 10-18 3-5 24, Smits-Francisco 0-0 0-0 0, Smith 2-6 4-5 8, Mitchell 0-2 0-2 0, Kamara 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 25-54 17-24 73.

Halftime—Idaho 33-27. 3-Point Goals—Northwest Nazarene 7-20 (Roth 2-2, Diaz 2-3, Nelson 1-3, Arms 1-3, Megwa 1-3, Franks 0-1, Burkett 0-1, Bezzant 0-4), Idaho 6-17 (Tyson 5-8, Allen 1-4, Rodriguez 0-1, Mitchell 0-1, West 0-3). Fouled Out—Rodriguez. Rebounds—Northwest Nazarene 34 (Arms 6), Idaho 30 (West, Kamara 6). Assists—Northwest Nazarene 15 (Megwa 5), Idaho 9 (West 5). Total Fouls—Northwest Nazarene 22, Idaho 18. A—1,817 (5,732).