Box Score
Boxscore

Moscow, ID - Vandal center Kyle Barone scored 25 points and helped stake Idaho to an early lead as the Vandals went on to a 77-68 non-conference win over Portland State at Cowan Spectrum.

The Vikings and Vandals were meeting in a non-conference game as part of the ESPN BracketBuster series. Idaho improved to 16-11 on the season, while the Vikings dropped to 13-13. Both teams stand in third place in their conferences (WAC and Big Sky, respectively).

The loss ends Portland State's three-game winning streak. The Vikings are 3-6 all-time in Moscow, 10-9 all-time against the Vandals.

Idaho has now won five straight games and nine of its last 12.

Idaho jumped to a 9-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game. The Vandals maintained that advantage throughout the half and went to the locker room with a 42-25 lead. Idaho made 19-28 shots in the first half (.679) compared to just 8-27 for the Vikings (.296).

Barone tore up the Vikings inside, making 9-10 shots for 19 points by halftime.

Idaho extended the lead to 19 early in the second half, but the Vikings charged back. PSU cut the deficit to 52-46 with 9:44 to play on a basket inside by Renado Parker. But the Vikings got no closer as the teams traded baskets for the remainder of the game.

Barone made 10-11 from the field and 5-5 at the line for his 25 points. Stephen Madison added 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Idaho finished 27-48 from the field for a .563 mark. The Vikings improved to 24-58 and a .414 percentage. PSU is 0-12 this year when it has been outshot from the field by its opponent.

Charles Odum led the Vikings with 17 points. Lateef McMullan added 16 points and six rebounds. Parker scored 14 points off the bench.

GAME NOTES: The Big Sky Conference went 3-6 in Saturday's BracketBuster games… it was the first meeting between the schools since the 2005-06 season… Idaho will be required to return to the game to Portland State some time over the next two seasons… the Vikings travel to Sacramento State for a Big Sky Conference game on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. A win would guarantee the Vikings a spot in the six-team Big Sky Conference Tournament, Mar. 3-7.