MOSCOW, Idaho – Arkadiy Mkrtuchyan scored 18 points and grabbed a team leading eight rebounds to lead Idaho to a 77-65 win against Eastern Oregon in the season opener for both teams on Friday night.
Sekou Wiggs added 13 points for the Vandals, with Bira Seck and Perrion Callandret each adding eight. Idaho controlled the glass for much of the night, outrebounding the Mountaineers 45-34.
Bryan McGriff scored a game high 27 to lead Eastern Oregon, and De'Sean Mattox added 14. However the Mountaineers struggled overall offensively, shooting just 37 percent from the field and 28 percent from 3-point range.
The Vandals led by just one at the break, but found their footing in the second half, outscoring Eastern Oregon by 11 with their largest lead reaching 15.
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