MOSCOW, Idaho – If it wasn't enough that Lewis-Clark State's men's basketball team is riddled with injury, the Warriors wound up taking on an University of Idaho team Warrior coach Brandon Rinta said is the best he's seen in 17 years of playing against the Vandals.
 
The result was an 84-59 loss in an exhibition game at Memorial Gym.
 
"It was difficult enough for us to defend them inside," Rinta said, "if they're going to shoot like that it makes it really tough on us."
 
Shooting like "that" was 51.6 percent for the game but a percentage that climbed as high as 60 percent at times in the second half.
 
"When they shoot like they did, that gave everyone on their team a high level of confidence," Rinta said.
 
As for the Warriors, Rinta was proud of their effort and competitiveness, and noted there are lessons to be taken from the Sunday afternoon game.
 
"This is an experience we can grow from," said Rinta, "in that it was a tough test on the road – the first of many this season. There is a certain mindset you have to have on the road. They experienced that today."
 
The Warriors stayed within range of the Vandals in the first half and into the second before Idaho took over to outscore them 41-27 in the final 20 minutes.
 
The Warriors, who wound up shooting 36.8 percent from the field, were led by the 14 points of Cordel Hankerson and 10 each from Blair Moore and Daniel Davydov, who exited in the first half with a shoulder injury. The Vandals did dominate the boards – 48-23, with Race Martin the leader with four.
 
The Warriors return to the Activity Center next weekend for the Clearwater River Resort and Casino Classic. They play at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.