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Damen Thacker scores 22 to lift Idaho past Montana State for first win of season

Idaho guard Damen Thacker dribbles down the court against Montana State on Feb. 26, 2021, in Moscow, Idaho. (Courtesy of Idaho athletics)
Staff and wire reports

Staff and wire reports

MOSCOW, Idaho – Damen Thacker scored 22 points, hitting 4 of 8 on 3-pointers, and Idaho ended its season-opening 19-game losing streak, edging past Montana State 74-69 on Friday.

Thacker hit a contested shot with 31 seconds remaining to put the Vandals up 70-67. He added two free throws with 3 seconds to play to seal the win.

Ja’Vary Christmas finished with 11 points, five rebounds, five assists, and one steal for Idaho (1-19, 1-16 Big Sky Conference). He was 3 for 4 from beyond the arc while playing a team-high 32 minutes.

The Vandals and Bobcats had 28 rebounds apiece. Three Vandals had five boards – Scott Blakney, Christmas and Tanner Christensen. Idaho had eight offensive rebounds and outscored MSU 11-0 in second-chance points.

Jubrile Belo scored a season-high 24 points for the Bobcats (9-8, 6-5), whose losing streak reached five games.

MSU’s Xavier Bishop added 14 points and seven assists. Amin Adamu had 12 points.

The Vandals host MSU again at noon Sunday.