Idaho coughs up lead late as EWU rallies for victory

From local reports and news services

CHENEY — In Round 2 of this regional rivalry, Idaho led most of the way, but Eastern Washington erased a 14-0 deficit, and Andrew Cook’s two free throws with 7.8 seconds left lifted EWU past the Vandals 75-73 in Big Sky Conference men’s basketball Saturday before 1,989 at Reese Court. 

Cook, a transfer from NAIA Carroll College in Helena, Mont., scored 20 of his season-high 28 points in the second half for Eastern Washington (10-16, 6-7 Big Sky). 

“I’m proud of our guys,” Eastern Washington coach Dan Monson, an Idaho alum and son of legendary former Vandal coach Don Monson. “I’m proud of my alma mater, they played hard, and they outplayed us for 39 minutes. They just had us on skates, we did not play well defensively at all and offensively and rebounds we were inconsistent. I can’t be prouder of our guys for fighting and finding a way.” 

Idaho (11-15, 6-7) did not score over the final 2:53, after two free throws by former Lapwai High star Titus Yearout put the Vandals up 73-69. 

“It’s a tough pill to swallow,” Idaho coach Alex Pribble said on the Vandals’ postgame radio show. “A lot of that’s on me; I’ve got to make sure we’re better prepared late in the game. But the reality is, we never should have put ourselves in that position late in the game.” 

Idaho’s Kolton Mitchell, a redshirt freshman from Lake City High, fouled out with 1:55 left, and Mason Williams sank two free throws to pull the Eagles within 73-71. 

Nic McLain stole the ball for EWU and passed ahead to Cook for a dunk to tie it at 73. 

Cook was fouled driving the baseline in the waning seconds, and gave Eastern its first lead of the game. He finished 10 for 10 from the line. 

With no timeouts left, Idaho rushed the ball up the court, but a turnaround 3 from the top of the key by center Julius Mims, the former North Idaho College star, fell short. 

Without Mitchell, the team’s point guard, on the floor late, “there was a lack of belief in our guys,” Pribble said. 

“We were telling the guys if they don’t make three and don’t get second chances, we’ll be there all game,” Monson said. “It was one of those games where whoever got that rebound was going to win in the end.” 

Isaiah Brickner led Idaho with 17 points off the bench, including 3 of 3 from 3-point range. Jack Payne added 16 points, 12 in the first half, and Mims finished with 13 points and eight boards. 

Kristian Gonzalez hit three 3s and scored 13 points. Mitchell finished with five points and seven assists. 

Idaho beat EWU 83-76 last month in Moscow. 

A 3 by Mims with 7 minutes left in the first half increased Idaho’s lead to 31-17. Brickner went coast to coast just before the horn, and the Vandals led 41-36 at the half. 

On Thursday, Idaho plays at Northern Arizona, and Eastern Washington is at Northern Colorado.

E. Washington 75, Idaho 73  

IDAHO (11-15)  

Mims 4-6 4-4 13, Mrus 0-3 0-2 0, Gonzalez 5-10 0-0 13, Mitchell 1-4 3-4 5, Payne 5-12 4-4 16, Brickner 5-5 4-4 17, Linhardt 1-3 2-2 4, Yearout 1-2 2-2 5, Anderson 0-0 0-0 0, Hardy 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-45 19-22 73.  

E. WASHINGTON (10-16)  

Marquardt 4-6 0-0 11, Cook 9-12 10-10 28, Powell 2-5 0-0 5, Stockton 0-3 0-0 0, Williams 2-9 4-6 8, Thomas 0-2 2-3 2, McClain 0-4 1-2 1, Hartmann 2-4 6-6 11, Winkel 3-4 0-0 6, Zanki 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 23-52 23-27 75.  

Halftime_Idaho 41-36. 3-Point Goals_Idaho 10-20 (Brickner 3-3, Gonzalez 3-6, Payne 2-6, Yearout 1-1, Mims 1-2, Mitchell 0-1, Mrus 0-1), E. Washington 6-20 (Marquardt 3-4, Powell 1-1, Zanki 1-2, Hartmann 1-3, Stockton 0-1, Cook 0-2, Thomas 0-2, Williams 0-2, McClain 0-3). Fouled Out_Mitchell. Rebounds_Idaho 24 (Mims 8), E. Washington 21 (Cook, McClain 4). Assists_Idaho 13 (Mitchell 7), E. Washington 16 (Williams 8). Total Fouls_Idaho 23, E. Washington 17. A_1,989 (6,000).