Chris Gweth (Beaverton, Ore.) led Seattle University with 15 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Alex Jones (Phoenix, Ariz.) reached double figures for the third straight game with 14 points along with three steals, Charles Garcia (Los Angeles, Calif.) also finished with 14 points to go along with six rebounds and two blocked shots, and Taylor Olson (Seattle, Wash.) scored a season-high 11 points, including a career-high three baskets from three-point land.
Idaho (13-12) was able to pull ahead in the first half thanks to an 18-5 run over a six-minute period. The Vandals shot 60 percent (15-of-25) from the field while holding SeattleU to 34.4 percent (11-of-32) shooting from the field in going ahead at the half, 38-28.
Three straight layups by Gavin Gilmore (Pasco, Wash.) in the first three and a half minutes of the second half allowed SeattleU to come within three at 40-37, but Kashif Watson score six of his game-high 20 points to extend Idaho's advantage back to seven points. The Redhawks twice cut a 10-point deficit in half and came within four with a minute remaining in regulation on an Olson three-pointer, but the Vandals went 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final minute to put the game away.
Gilmore finished the game with eight points, while Aaron Broussard (Federal Way, Wash.) contributed eight points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. SeattleU shot just 38.2 percent from the field (26-of-68), including 8-of-23 from the three-point line, and 63.2 percent from the free throw line (12-of-19).
Besides Watson's 20 points, Marvin Jefferson finished with 16 points, eight rebounds, and four blocked shots for Idaho. Mac Hopson collected 15 points, six rebounds, nine assists, and two steals, and Luiz Toledo added 10 points, seven rebounds, and three steals to the winning effort. The Vandals finished the night shooting 57.1 percent from the field (28-of-49) and 67.6 percent from the free throw line (25-of-37), plus they won the rebounding battle, 41-32.
"My guys fought hard and battled all night, but there is such a small margin for error when playing on the road. They (Idaho) did a real good job against us, especially getting to the line and making their free throws when it counted," SeattleU head coach Cameron Dollar said.
Seattle University (13-14) spends the weekend at home before heading to California for a contest against San Jose State Monday night, Feb. 22, beginning at 7 p.m. The team will then play its final two home games of the regular season against Cal State Bakersfield on Feb. 27 and Portland State on March 2 at KeyArena at Seattle Center.