BOISE, Idaho — In a decisive showdown on Monday night, the Idaho Vandals emerged victorious over Portland State with an 80-70 win during the Big Sky Conference Tournament quarterfinal. Spearheaded by Kristian Gonzalez’s impressive 24 points and Jack Payne’s contribution of 20 points, the Vandals secured their place in the semifinals.
The sixth-seeded Idaho team, now 14-18, will take on the No. 2 seed Montana in a semifinal match scheduled for Tuesday. Meanwhile, Montana State, seeded fifth, is set to face the top-seeded Northern Colorado in another semifinal clash.
Gonzalez showcased his shooting prowess by going 7 for 12, including 3 for 8 from beyond the arc and 7 of 8 free throws. Payne supported his performance with an additional seven rebounds and three steals, while Julius Mims chipped in with 10 points.
The game saw the third-seeded Portland State Vikings, who posted a 19-13 record, being led by Terri Miller Jr. He delivered an admirable performance with 17 points, 13 rebounds, and two steals. Teammate Qiant Myers contributed 14 points and six assists, and Isaiah Johnson added 11 points to their efforts.
Idaho took control of the game early on, seizing the lead just 17:24 into the first half and maintaining their advantage throughout. Gonzalez made a significant impact in the opening half, scoring 15 of his total points before the break.
