JACKRABBITS TOPPED BY VANDALS

Saturday, December 6

Brookings, S.D.

2 p.m.

South Dakota State University

5-5,0-0Summit League

Idaho

6-3,0-0Big Sky

Idaho

South Dakota St.

Jaden Jackson

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

12/6/2025 5:08:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Andrew Pedersen

BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State had an opportunity with the clock winding down to force its contest on Saturday to overtime, but a late 3-pointer was unsuccessful as Idaho defeated the Jackrabbits 84-81 in First Bank & Trust Arena.

The Jackrabbits held a seven-point lead at one point in the first half before the Vandals cut the margin to 44-41 at halftime.

SDSU opened the second half with a three-point play, converted by Matthew Mors, and was ahead 53-46 with 17 minutes, 40 seconds remaining. A stretch of missed free throws and missed opportunities, along with strong shooting by the Vandals, allowed Idaho to take a 56-54 with 14:14 to go.

The two sides traded baskets over the next 10 minutes of action. A Jaden Jackson field goal put SDSU ahead, 71-69, with 4:34 on the clock. The Vandals responded with consecutive 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to go on top, 75-71.

The Jackrabbits had the deficit down to 75-74 following a Bubz Alvarez three-point play as the time dipped under three minutes. Idaho again drained a 3-pointer to create separation. Another one-point edge for the Vandals again was pushed back up to three as a Jackson Rasmussen layup made it 82-79 with 16 seconds remaining.

Idaho held an 83-81 lead with six seconds on the clock. Brody Bowbury went to the free throw line for two attempts. He made his first opportunity, but missed his second giving SDSU a final attempt to force the game beyond regulation. Mors had the initial rebound and he gave way to Jackson. The sophomore guard's late attempt with two seconds to go was no good as the buzzer sounded in favor of the Vandals.

Kolton Mitchell of Idaho was the game's leading scorer with 22 points. Idaho had five double-digit scorers in the contest. The Vandals shot nearly 52% from the floor in the second half and hit 11 3-pointers in the matchup. SDSU shot 47.3% in the game, but 44.4% in the second half which included just five 3-pointers made on the day.

The Vandals improved to 6-3 on the season with the win while the Jackrabbits fell to 5-5. The game was the second of two as a part of the Big Sky-Summit Challenge.

NOTES

Idaho out-rebounded SDSU by a 34-30 margin. Both teams controlled the ball as the Jacks turned it over just five times and Idaho committed nine turnovers.
Both teams had plenty of opportunities at the charity stripe. Each team recorded 72% clips at the line with SDSU going 24-for-33 and Idaho shooting 21 of 29 on free throw attempts.
SDSU was paced by Jackson who scored 21 points. He was 8-for-13 shooting, including 3 of 5 from deep, in 38 minutes played. Damon Wilkinson scored 16 points and had seven rebounds, while Joe Sayler scored 12 points which included a 9-for-11 mark at the free throw line.

UP NEXT
South Dakota State travels to Ball State for a non-conference meeting. The Jackrabbits and Cardinals meet in Muncie, Ind., for a 6 p.m. CT matchup on Tuesday inside Worthen Arena.

-GoJacks.com-