Jacks bid for three straight comes up short in Idaho

Saturday, December 30

Moscow, Idaho

7:05 p.m. PT

South Dakota State University

Idaho

12/30/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

By: SDSU Sports Info

MOSCOW, Idaho ? South Dakota State returned to action Saturday night under the roof of the Kibbie Dome in Cowan Spectrum after a short holiday break with a chance to avenge its home opening loss.

More than just avenging the loss, a win would give the Jackrabbits its first three-game win streak since moving to Division I, but just like the first meeting on November 16th, the Jacks could not hold on to a halftime lead, and lost again, this time 72-67.

Idaho jumped out to the early lead with a 9-0 run to start the contest. Thomas Bassett ended the run with a jumper to get the Jacks on the board with just over 17 minutes to go in the first half.

The Jacks continued to chip away at the lead until Matt Cadwell hit a left-handed floater that put them up 15-14 with 8:53 left in the half. Cadwell's shot was part of an 18-0 run that lasted more than eight minutes minutes and ended with the Jacks up 23-14, their largest lead of the game.

South Dakota State shot 48 percent (13-of-27) in the first half, including seven of its nine three-point shots and took a 33-29 lead into the locker room.

Idaho shot 41 percent in the first half on 12-of-29 shooting, including 5-of-12 from three-point range.

Neither team shot a free throw in the first half.

The Vandals slowly came back in the second half and took a 47-46 lead with 13:35 to go in the game as part of a 7-0 Idaho run.

Mackenzie Casey buried a three-pointer nine seconds later to end the run and put the Jacks back on top 49-47, but the Vandals countered with four quick points and never trailed again.

The Jacks clawed their way back to tie the game at 55 on a pair of Jose Frias free throws, but again, the Vandals came back to score four quick points and regain the lead.

Matt Cadwell hit a three-pointer with 2:50 left to tie the game at 65, but a Darin Nagle came right back to put the Vandals up for good.

The Jacks shot 32 percent (10-of-31) in the second half and finished the game shooting 39.7 percent (23-of-58).

Idaho shot 48 percent (26-of-54) for the game, but got out rebounded 35-32 by the Jackrabbits.

Matt Cadwell led all scorers with 19 points on 7-of-20 shooting, Garrett Callahan added 14 points and Mackenzie Casey, who scored a career high 21 points in the first meeting, finished with 11 points.

Trevor Morris led five different Vandals in double figures with 16 points.

Idaho improves to 2-10 with the win, while the Jacks fall to 4-11.

South Dakota State returns to action on January 6th to host Central Florida in the Lamb Bonanza. Tip off at Frost Arena is scheduled for 7.p.m.