In a significant matchup on Thursday, the Idaho Vandals achieved an 80-67 triumph over the Sacramento State Hornets. Jack Payne emerged as a standout performer for Idaho, scoring 23 points and contributing five rebounds to his team’s success. His offensive effort helped boost Idaho’s record to 7-9 overall and 2-1 in the Big Sky Conference.
In addition to Payne’s impressive performance, Kristian Gonzalez played a crucial role by shooting 71% from the field, finishing with 15 points, including three successful shots from beyond the arc out of four attempts. Tyler Linhardt also made a solid contribution with 13 points, hitting 5 of his 12 attempts, while connecting on three of his nine attempts from three-point range.
The Hornets had Jacob Holt as their standout player, who was nothing short of phenomenal. Holt recorded an impressive 35 points along with 10 rebounds and two steals, showcasing his all-around game. Additionally, Julian Vaughns chined in with 13 points and dished out four assists to support the team.
Looking ahead, both Idaho and Sacramento State are scheduled to play again on Saturday. Idaho will head to Portland State, while Sacramento State will take on Eastern Washington at home, where both teams will be aiming to improve their standings in the conference.