First win for Pfeifer
BROOKINGS, S.D. – Keoni Watson scored 26 points Thursday and the University of Idaho hit 10 3-pointers in a 74-66 non-conference men’s basketball win over South Dakota State.
The win, the first for George Pfeifer as Vandals coach, snapped Idaho’s 18-game road losing streak dating back to Feb. 5, 2005. South Dakota State is 0-4.
“It feels good,” Pfeifer said. “Those boys were real happy tonight. We talked about having to be tougher, because we didn’t feel like we displayed a lot of toughness (last Friday) against North Dakota State. We had some people who sacrificed their bodies and got on the floor for some lose balls. We are nowhere near where we need to be yet, but we saw some growth tonight. “
The score was tied at 24 before the Jackrabbits pulled ahead at the half, outscoring the Vandals 8-5 over the final 3 minutes.
The Vandals (1-1) opened the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers to take the lead.
The game had four more lead changes before Mario Mackey hit a 3-pointer at the 14:49 mark to give Idaho an advantage it didn’t give up.
South Dakota State tied the game on its next possession, but Watson scored 12 of Idaho’s next 14 points and the Vandals built a 62-56 lead with 6:15 remaining.
Idaho 74, S.D. State 66
Idaho (1-1) – C.Johnson 4-7 1-1 9, Crowell 5-7 0-1 14, Nwoke 2-4 0-1 4, Watson 8-16 6-7 26, Mackey 2-8 3-5 9, Avworo 3-6 2-2 8, Webb 0-3 0-0 0, M.Johnson 0-1 0-0 0, Morris 0-0 0-0 0, Madsen 0-0 4-4 4, Taulbee 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-52 16-21 74.
South Dakota State (0-4) – Williams 1-4 0-0 2, Bassett 2-4 0-0 4, Frias 0-0 0-1 0, Kleinjan 0-5 0-0 0, Cadwell 7-16 4-7 20, Casey 7-12 4-4 21, Yackley 1-2 0-0 3, Hornby 0-1 0-0 0, Engen 3-7 0-1 6, Loney 5-7 0-0 10. Totals 26-58 8-13 66.
Halftime—South Dakota State 32, Idaho 29. 3-point goals—Idaho 10-27 (Crowell 4-6, Watson 4-7, Mackey 2-7, M.Johnson 0-1, C.Johnson 0-1, Webb 0-2, Avworo 0-3), S. Dakota St. 6-17 (Casey 3-5, Cadwell 2-5, Yackley 1-1, Hornby 0-1, Williams 0-1, Engen 0-1, Kleinjan 0-3). Fouled out—Cadwell, Engen, Nwoke. Rebounds—Idaho 34 (C.Johnson, Nwoke 7), S. Dakota St. 32 (Williams 6). Assists—Idaho 9 (Watson 3), S. Dakota St. 13 (Casey 4). Total fouls—Idaho 18, S. Dakota St. 23. A—2,124.