3-point shooting, turnovers, lead to fourth straight loss for Vandals 
The difference between Idaho being undefeated in conference play through six games and its current 2-4 WAC record is an average of seven points, but that number might as well be infinity.
Hitting the road Thursday evening the Vandals once again went down to the wire only to walk away with the loss, falling to Louisiana Tech 72-66 in Ruston.
The loss is Idaho’s fourth consecutive, and fourth consecutive game in which Idaho was in a one-possession game with less than a minute remaining.
“I’d like to tell Vandal fans I have a heart, but I feel like it’s been ripped out and thrown on the ground,” Idaho coach Don Verlin said on the post-game radio show.
The first half saw an Idaho team with intensity getting off to the quick start, jumping out to a 15-6 lead and fending off a late first half charge from La. Tech to go into the locker room up 30-25 at the half.
Ultimately, though, this game was decided on ball security, and Idaho had very little of it. The Vandals gave La. Tech 33 points from turnovers, which, combined with the Bulldogs sinking eight second-half 3-pointers, sealed Idaho’s fourth consecutive loss.
The biggest of which, a Connor Hill turnover with 1:26 left, leading to La. Tech’s Kenneth Smith draining a 3-point shot to put the Bulldogs ahead 67-63 with 51 seconds remaining.
“We just didn’t take care of the game,” Verlin said.
“But we turn it over 23 times and four or five times in the last five minutes of the game. We have got to find a way to secure the game.”
Four of those turnovers came with under 1:30 remaining in the game, when La. Tech closed the game out on an 8-3 run.
Dealing with a full-court press, which has been an issue for Idaho for the past couple of years, once again troubled Idaho. The Bulldogs pressured full-court the final 30 minutes of the game. From there, it was trouble for Idaho to find offensive rhythm.
“They did a good job of pressuring us, I think we did a decent job of dealing with it,” Verlin said. “…This is another tough one to swallow. I think we made some good decisions, I thought we could get the ball to Kyle Barone well.”
The duo of Barone and Stephen Madison ended the game with a combined 40 points and 15 rebounds, taking 25 of Idaho’s 52 shot attempts and 16 of Idaho’s 18 free throw attempts. The rest of the team had trouble finding any rhythm.
“Between those two (point guards) they turn it over seven times. (Mansa Habeeb) never got in a flow, was hampered by foul trouble,” Verlin said.
The late game woes are nothing new for the Vandals, which have experienced such heart break dating back as far as Nov. 23 against Montana when the Vandals relinquished a 17-point lead and never recovered.
“You have to figure out why you’re losing. You can’t regress on what you’re doing well,” Verlin said. “We’re defending very well. We rebound the ball well. We aren’t able to secure the ball, our guards are getting a little loose with the ball, they get easy baskets and we end up on the wrong side of the game.”
If ever there is a stretch in Idaho’s schedule for a turn-around to be possible the upcoming three-game stretch just may be it. Idaho will face Texas-Arlington Saturday, which lost 61-44 to Seattle on Thursday. Idaho will then come home to face Texas State and Texas-San Antonio — who have combined to go 0-12 in WAC play through Thursday.
“Like I told (my players), I’ll treat you like professionals. This is a business trip. Hell yes I’m down, Vandal fans should be down. Very easily this record could be totally different but it’s not,” Verlin said. “We got to tie it up tomorrow and come back on Saturday and bust our tail and find a way to get a win.”
Sean Kramer can be reached at [email protected]