A day after losing its first game in Portland, the Vandal men’s basketball team rebounded with a win over North Texas on Friday. It marked the third of three games for Idaho in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic and second game in Portland.
Led by senior Stephen Madison’s 25 points, the Vandals never trailed after taking the lead three minutes into the game, eventually winning the game 87-76.
The Vandals would lead by as many as 24 points, and were never really threatened, only seeing the Mean Green get as close as seven points late in the game with 51 seconds left to go. Thanks to some good free throw shooting though, the Vandals would extend that lead to 11 when the final buzzer sounded.
Unlike Thursday night, where Madison was the lone player in double digit points, the Vandals had three players reach the mark on Friday. Along with Madison’s 25 points, Glen Dean scored 16 with all his points came from either from behind three point land or the free throw line. All of Dean’s points came in the second half.
Connor Hill didn’t enjoy his best shooting night from three, going 2-6, but still managed to add 12 points of his own. Dean and Hill scored three 3-pointers to start the second half for the Vandals extending Idaho’s lead to 51-34.
After a slow start to his college career, Perrion Callandret seems to finally be getting comfortable and is adjusting to the pace of play at the college level.
With seven points, going 2-3 from the field, 1-2 from behind the arc, and 2-2 from the line, he enjoyed his best shooting night of his young college career. Callandret also added six rebounds which was second on the team, one behind Madison.
The Vandals will wrap up play at 4:30 pm. on Saturday in Portland when they take on Columbia to conclude the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
Korbin McDonald can be reached at [email protected]