MOSCOW – Four players scored in double digits as the Vandals ran away with their season-opening exhibition over St. Martin’s by an 87-61 margin Friday night.
In front of a packed house of 1,472 fans at Memorial Gym, four players, led by senior Steffan Johnson’s 14, scored in double figures, while nine different players registered an assist.
Senior guard Mac Hopson dropped in 12 points, along with five assists and two rebounds, while senior center Marvin Jefferson and junior guard Shawn Henderson also added 12 points each. Redshirt freshman Kyle Barone also had a near double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.
The first half saw Idaho attack the basket early and often. The Vandals raced out to a 17-2 lead, of which 12 points came in the paint.
Idaho held a double-digit lead for the remainder of the half, as the team moved the ball with ease and played unselfishly. Idaho went into the half with a 45-29 lead and had 10 players with points already notched.
The second half was played at a slower tempo, but the results were still the same. Henderson hit five of his six shots in the second, and Jefferson hit four-of-six in the post area. Idaho extended its lead to as many as 27 points on two occasions before settling for the final.
With the win, Idaho will now move on to game preparation for its season opener at Utah on November 13th.
