Vandals sunk by Darling, ISU's 3s

From local reports

POCATELLO — The Idaho Vandals couldn’t keep the lead, then couldn’t defend the 3. 

Idaho State took the lead with an 18-4 run over the last 5 ½ minutes of the first half, then hit 11 of 14 3-pointers in the second half and pulled away from Idaho for an 87-71 Big Sky Conference men’s basketball victory Saturday afternoon before 1,729 at Reed Gym. 

Dylan Darling, the Washington State transfer who starred at Central Valley High in Spokane Valley, poured in 28 points for Idaho State (10-10, 5-4 Big Sky), including 17 in the second half. 

Darling, who also had nine assists, finished 6 of 11 from 3-point range for the Bengals, who were 16 of 26 beyond the arc for the game. 

Kolton Mitchell, the redshirt freshman who played 10 games at Idaho State last year before an injury to his left ring finger ended his season, led Idaho (10-13, 5-5) with 17 points.  

Kristian Gonzalez added 16 points for the Vandals, who were 23 of 52 from the field, including 6 of 24 from deep. 

Idaho led 25-21 before ISU took the lead late in the first half. The Bengals led by as much as 21 points after intermission. 

Isaiah Griffin added 14 points for the Bengals, and Jake O’Neil hit 3 of 4 3s and finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds. 

ISU beat Idaho for the eighth time in nine meetings. The Vandals were looking for their first victory in Pocatello since 2017. 

Idaho plays host to Portland State on Thursday.

IDAHO ST. 87, IDAHO 71

IDAHO (10-13) 

Mims 4-4 2-2 10, Mrus 2-7 2-2 6, Gonzalez 5-10 4-4 16, Mitchell 5-10 6-6 17, Payne 1-3 2-2 5, Linhardt 4-11 1-1 10, Anderson 0-0 2-2 2, Brickner 0-4 0-0 0, Hardy 1-2 0-1 2, Rose 1-1 0-0 3, Klapper 0-0 0-0 0, Yearout 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-52 19-20 71.  

IDAHO ST. (10-10) 

Griffin 6-13 1-2 14, Hollenbeck 1-4 0-0 3, Otten 2-3 2-3 6, Darling 8-16 6-8 28, O'Neil 4-6 1-4 12, Greene 1-3 5-5 7, Daberkow 2-2 0-0 5, Burgin 4-5 0-0 12, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Graham 0-0 0-0 0, Madimba 0-1 0-0 0, Meza 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-53 15-22 87.  

Halftime_Idaho St. 39-29. 3-Point Goals_Idaho 6-24 (Gonzalez 2-7, Rose 1-1, Payne 1-3, Linhardt 1-4, Mitchell 1-4, Brickner 0-1, Mrus 0-4), Idaho St. 16-26 (Darling 6-11, Burgin 4-5, O'Neil 3-4, Daberkow 1-1, Griffin 1-2, Hollenbeck 1-2, Greene 0-1). Rebounds_Idaho 20 (Mims, Mitchell, Payne, Linhardt, Brickner 3), Idaho St. 30 (O'Neil 10). Assists_Idaho 9 (Payne, Anderson 2), Idaho St. 19 (Darling 9). Total Fouls_Idaho 18, Idaho St. 18. A_1,729 (3,214).