University of Idaho Defeats Willamette, 114-73, in Exhibition

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

MOSCOW, IDAHO -- The University of Idaho defeated Willamette University, 114-73, in a men's basketball exhibition game on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Memorial Gym. The Vandals led by 14 points at halftime, before pulling away over the final 20 minutes.

Ryan Meehan (Sr., Wing) led the Bearcats in scoring with 16 points. He was 5 of 9 from the field, including 2 for 5 on three-pointers. Terrell Malley (Jr., G, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS) supplied 10 points, while Taylor Mounts (Sr., Wing/Post, Kailua, HI/Iolani School) contributed 10 points and four rebounds.

Kyle McNally (Fr., Post, Salem, OR/Sprague HS) grabbed a team-high 5 boards for the Bearcats. Trevor Bos (So.,. G, Lakewood, CA/St. John Boscoe HS) earned three assists.

Stephen Madison topped the Vandals with 23 points on 8 of 11 shooting. He was 2 for 3 on field goals, went 5 for 5 at the line and earned eight rebounds.

Three other Vandals finished with 14 points apiece. Kyle Barone combined his 14 points with a game-high 10 rebounds for a double-double. Deremy Geiger hit 4 of 8 field goals with two 3-pointers and Dazmond Starke went 6 of 9 shooting and grabbed eight boards.

Willamette trailed 8-2 and 20-7, but kept pace with the Vandals over the remainder of the half to stay within striking distance. Idaho attained a slim 32-31 advantage over the final 14:22 of the half to claim a 52-38 lead at the break. WU ended the half with an 8-2 run.

A 5-2 surge by Willamette at the start of the second half cut the lead to 54-43 with 18:10 left in the game. Idaho held a 64-52 advantage after Oliver Hughes (Jr., Wing, Salt Lake City, UT/Judge Memorial HS) hit a 3-pointer for WU with 15:45 to go. The Vandals were in front by 15 points, 74-59, after Mounts hit two free throws with 12:03 remaining.

Idaho was in control the rest of the way, as the Vandals extended the lead to 85-60 at the 8:10 mark and to 97-66 with 5:41 left.

Willamette connected on 40.7% of its field goal attempts (22 of 54) and made 6 of 19 three-pointers (31.6%). The Bearcats converted 23 of 31 free throws (74.2%). Idaho was 39 of 79 from the field (49.4%), 10 of 21 on three-pointers (47.6%) and 26 of 35 at the line (74.3%).

The Bearcats will take on the Willamette Alumni in an exhibition game on Saturday, Nov. 12 at Cone Field House, starting at 6 p.m. (PST). Willamette will open the regular season against D'Youville College (N.Y.) in the opening round of the Calvin Tip-Off Classic in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Friday, Nov. 18