Recap: Idaho vs. Texas State

Moscow, ID (Sports Network) - Joel Wright exploded for a career-high 37 points as the Texas State Bobcats overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat the Idaho Vandals, 78-73, in a Western Athletic Conference tilt at Cowan Spectrum.

Wright also added six rebounds, five assists, and five steals to lead the Bobcats (6-14, 2-6 WAC) to their second win in a row. Phil Hawkins provided 16 points and Reid Koenen scored 10 points in the victory.

Kyle Barone paced Idaho (7-11, 3-5) by registering a monster double-double of 27 points and 16 boards. Stephen Madison scored 14 points and Mike McChristian got into the mix with 13 points and eight rebounds. The loss was the fifth for the Vandals in six games.

Idaho opened up the contest on a 6-0 run and managed to extend their edge on the scoreboard to as many as 17, but Wright pushed the Bobcats on an 11-0 run to cut into the lead. Texas State went into halftime trailing, 34-30, after shooting 36.4 percent from the floor in the opening half. The Vandals hit 44.4 percent of their field goal tries in the first stanza.

The Bobcats heated up to knock down 59.3 percent from the field, including 5- of-10 from beyond the arc after halftime. The visitors took their first lead of the game when Vonn Jones passed to an open Hawkins for the trey with three minutes remaining. Texas State then led by as many as six thanks to a stellar offensive display in the second period.

The Vandals fell despite owning a 37-28 edge in the rebounding battle and making 20-of-24 at the free throw line. Texas State committed a season-low eight turnovers and Idaho was guilty of 18 miscues.