Broncos buckle down, top Idaho
BOISE – Coby Karl scored 19 points, including a pair of crucial 3-pointers, and Jermaine Blackburn added 20 points Friday night as Boise State rallied for a 76-66 non-conference men’s basketball victory over Idaho in the season opener for both schools.
Tanoris Shepard and Tihon Johnson combined for 18 points to lead Idaho to a 37-33 halftime lead. The Vandals extended their lead to 39-33 when Dandrick Jones connected on his first field-goal attempt of the second half.
Karl tied the game at 39 with a four-point play. He soon added another 3-pointer, and Blackburn had a three-point play, for a 57-45 Broncos lead.
Boise State built the advantage to 17 points, at 64-47, before the Vandals responded with an 8-0 run. Idaho came no closer than nine points, however, and fell to BSU for the seventh consecutive time.
“I’m not disappointed with the kids’ effort tonight, but we didn’t execute at times,” said Idaho coach Leonard Perry. “You can’t have 18 turnovers on your opponent’s home floor and expect to win.”
Jason Ellis of the Broncos scored 10 of his 12 points during a 31-10 surge to start the second half.
Shepard led Idaho with 16 points and Jerod Haynes added 13.
“I’m very disappointed,” Shepard said. “We all wanted this game. We wanted to start the season off on the right foot, but we can’t let it linger.”
The Vandals will play Southeastern Louisiana tonight.
Boise State 76, Idaho 66
Idaho (0-1)—Jones 6-9 0-0 12, Davis 0-2 0-0 0, Shepard 7-15 2-2 16, Johnson-6 0-1 8, Lyons 2-5 0-1 4, Radlovic 0-2 0-0 0, Haynes 5-10 2-2 13,igdon 1-3 0-1 2, Kahrimanovic 4-8 0-0 9, Kale 1-3 0-0 2. Totals0-63 4-7 66.
Boise State (1-0)—Lloyd 4-7 3-7 12, Blackburn 7-15 6-9 20, Ellis 3-5 6-6 12, Lane-5 1 3 7, Karl 6-10 4-8 19, Robinson 1-3 0-0 2, Thompson 1-2 0-0, Banks 1-2 0-0 2, Harris 0-2 0-0 0, Gainous 0-0 0-0 0, Green 0-0-0 0. Totals 25-51 20-33 76.
Halftime—Idaho 37, Boise State 33. 3-Point goals—Idaho 2-13 (Haynes 1-3, Kahhrimanovic 1-4, Higdon 0-2, Shepard 0-4), Boise State 6-15 (Karl 3-4, Lane 2-4, Thompson 1-2, Robinson 0-1, Harris 0-1, Blackburn 0-3). Fouled out—none. Rebounds—Idaho 32 (Lyons 7, Jones 7), Boise State 34 (Blackburn 10). Assists—Idaho 5 (Haynes), Boise State 11 (Blackburn 5). Total fouls—Idaho 25, Boise State 4. A—5,211.