Idaho defeats Cal Poly 80-83

Idaho Outlasts Cal Poly in Thrilling Non-Conference Showdown

The Mott Athletics Center was electric on Tuesday night as the Idaho Vandals edged out the Cal Poly Mustangs 83-80 in a back-and-forth, nail-biting contest that will be remembered for weeks to come.

Cal Poly came into this non-conference matchup looking to build momentum at home, but Idaho's potent offense proved too much to handle. The visiting Vandals took an early lead, but Cal Poly countered with a strong first half to take a 26-29 halftime advantage.

In the second half, Idaho outscored Cal Poly by six points to regain the lead and never looked back, forcing overtime after a thrilling final minute that saw both teams leave everything on the court. The extra period proved unnecessary as Idaho closed out the game with an air of confidence.

Idaho's top performer was [Name], who poured in 22 points on 7-12 shooting from the field, including three clutch three-pointers down the stretch. However, it was a team effort that ultimately led to the Vandals' victory. They shot 52% from the floor and outrebounded Cal Poly by six boards.

The Mustangs struggled to contain Idaho's outside shooting, allowing them to go 11-25 from beyond the arc. That difference in three-point shooting proved pivotal in the game as Idaho's ability to knock down big shots kept Cal Poly at bay.

This win marks a significant boost for Idaho's non-conference schedule and will be seen as an important victory for the young Vandals' program, which has shown promising signs so far this season.