Don Verlin could scarcely have picked a better time to get his first win over his mentor and former employer. The Vandals frustrated Utah State from the start and were poised at the finish of a 64-56 win over the 21st-ranked team in the nation.

Read on for our updated game story from Moscow, where only 1,512 were on hand to witness the big win.

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By Josh Wright
Correspondent

MOSCOW, Idaho – They couldn’t be sure until the final 11 seconds. But once Brockeith Pane’s jumper sailed into the stands, ending a tumultuous shooting night for Utah State, Idaho fans unleashed a deafening roar.

Then came a court-storming that Cowan Spectrum hasn’t seen in years.

Playing on national television against the WAC’s powerhouse men’s basketball program, the Vandals sprang a 64-56 upset of the 21st-ranked Aggies in front of 1,512 on Wednesday night.

The loss snapped USU’s 17-game winning streak. The Aggies (22-3, 11-1) had won a conference record 25 consecutive regular-season WAC games dating back to Jan. 4 of last year.

For the Vandals (14-10, 7-5), this was their first win against such a highly ranked team since March 14, 1982, when they beat 16th-ranked Iowa in the NCAA tournament in Pullman.

Idaho was led by Jeff Ledbetter’s 14 points. The senior guard hit key back-to-back 3-pointers late in the second half – his only two makes of the game from long range in 12 attempts.

“The coaches just kept telling, ‘If you’re open, fire it,’” Ledbetter said. “I’ve got to jump up and shoot like I’ve made the last five.”

Former Utah State guard Deremy Geiger contributed 12 points and a career-high nine rebounds. The first-year transfer point guard, celebrating his 21st birthday, had five points in the final 2:14 as USU tried to mount a charge.

The Aggies closed within five, 60-55, with 49 seconds left on Pooh Williams’ deep 3. But UI made its last four free throws to close out the win.

“What a great win for our program and for our players,” said UI coach Don Verlin, who spent 15 years with Aggies coach Stew Morril at USU and Colorado State.

It was especially sweet for Geiger, who left USU after his freshman year because of poor grades and came to Idaho after a season at a Texas junior college. He wore a broad smile as he dribbled during the final seconds before students mobbed the court.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling right now,” Geiger said. “Indescribable.”

The Vandals took advantage of an off-kilter performance for Utah State. The Aggies shot just 34 percent from the field and were 5-of-28 from 3-point range. Part of their struggles came while UI employed a box-and-one defense aimed at frustrating USU sharpshooter Brian Green.

“We decided to throw a little wrinkle at them and it worked,” Verlin said.

But Utah State used its interior muscle to snatch 20 offensive rebounds – 10 in the first 12-plus minutes. On one possession, the Aggies’ Tyler Newbold missed a 3 before Nate Bendall collected two offensive boards (and two misses) and Brady Jardine rebounded and missed.

Jardine was fouled on an ensuing scrum before Utah State missed two more shots and Idaho finally snared the rebound.

The Vandals were much better on the glass in the second half, particularly coming up with crucial offensive boards. Kyle Barone had 12 rebounds, four on offense, to go along with 11 points.

“I thought Kyle Barone played his best game as a Vandal,” Verlin said. “He had some huge offensive rebounds when we were struggling a bit.”

NOTES – Late in the first half Ledbetter tied a school record with his 26th consecutive made free throw. The streak started on Dec. 31 against Louisiana Tech. He then missed his next two. Gary Simmons set the record in 1956. ... USU leading scorer Tai Wesley played with a mask on his face after Jardine elbowed him inadvertently, breaking his nose. He finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
 

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