Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
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Idaho
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Wildcats drop close game 62-58 at Idaho
3/4/2016 5:41:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MOSCOW, Idaho – Weber State dropped a chance to clinch the Big Sky title as the Wildcats lost a back-and-forth game 62-58 at the University of Idaho Thursday night in the Cowan Spectrum.
With the loss, Weber State is back in a tie for first with Montana in the Big Sky standings at 14-3. The Wildcats need a win in their final game Saturday at Eastern Washington or a Montana loss at home to Northern Colorado to clinch the Big Sky regular season title.
Thursday's game saw 11 ties and 16 lead changes but free throws and rebounding made the difference for the Vandals. Idaho outrebounded Weber State 50-30, the most rebounds WSU has allowed this season. Weber State was also just 13 of 25 from the free throw line for 52 percent shooting.
“It came down to rebounds and free throws,” said WSU head coach Randy Rahe. “The free throws finally caught up to us tonight. You also can't go on the road against a good basketball team and lose the rebounding battle by 20. We gave ourselves an opportunity and I thought we defended well but didn't do the things we needed to do.”
The Wildcats led 26-19 with 4:42 left in the first half before Idaho went on an 11-2 run to take the lead. WSU's Richaud Gittens closed the first half with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give the Wildcats a 31-30 lead at the break.
Idaho led 46-44 with 8:46 left to play when Jeremy Senglin scored seven straight points for the Wildcats to five WSU a two-point lead.
The Vandals led by two with 1:14 left when McKay Cannon hit a jumper to tie the game. Idaho's Victor Sanders knocked down a 3-pointer with 39 seconds left to give Idaho the lead and the Vandals held for the win.
Weber State shot 38 percent from the field and held Idaho to just 29 percent shooting, including 23 percent in the second half. The 29 percent shooting is the lowest of a WSU Division I opponent this season.
WSU was 7 of 22 from 3-point range and had nine steals in the game.
Senglin led the 'Cats with 17 points, six rebounds and three steals. Senior Joel Bolomboy returned to action after missing two games with a knee bruise and posted 16 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Cannon and Gittens each had nine for the 'Cats.
The Wildcats conclude the regular season Saturday afternoon at Eastern Washington in a game that will start at 2 p.m. Pacific time (3 p.m. MT). The 'Cats will clinch the Big Sky title and the top seed in next week's tournament with a win or a Montana loss.
