Coeur d'Alene product Kolton Mitchell scored a career-high 32 points for the Idaho Vandals, who shot a season-best 58.7% from the field during a 95-72 nonconference rout of Pacific on Saturday afternoon at Alex G. Spanos Center in Stockton, California.
Mitchell, a redshirt freshman out of Lake City High, shot 12 of 17 from the field and 6 of 10 from 3-point range to lead the Vandals (5-8) to their biggest win of the season against a Division I opponent. Idaho also snapped a three-game losing streak.
Idaho hit five 3s over the first 8 minutes of the game and held the Tigers (5-9) to 2 of 12 shooting during that span. The Vandals used the hot start to create a 24-5 advantage, and they stayed ahead comfortably throughout the second half.
Guard Kristian Gonzalez added 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting, and star post Julius Mims contributed 14 points and nine rebounds for Idaho, which shot 15 of 34 (44.1%) on 3-pointers.
Pacific shot 42.2% from the floor and 11 of 29 from 3-point distance.
Up next, the Vandals begin Big Sky Conference play on Jan. 2 at home against Montana State.
Idaho 68, Cal State-Northridge 52: The Vandals broke open a tight game with a dominant third quarter and cruised to a nonconference win over the Matadors on Saturday afternoon at Premier America Credit Union Arena in Northridge, California.
The Vandals (8-3) trailed 35-33 at the half, but erupted in the third quarter, outscoring Cal State-Northridge 25-8 in the period. Idaho shot 8 of 18 in the third and held the Matadors to 3 of 17 shooting.
Guard Hope Hassmann led Idaho with 18 points and Anja Bukvic contributed 14 points. The Vandals shot 32.9% from the field and 6 of 28 from 3-point range, but went 14 of 16 from the foul line. Idaho outrebounded the Matadors 53-38.
CSU-Northridge (2-9) shot 30.2% from the field and 29.2% on 3s, and committed 23 turnovers.
Idaho next plays its Big Sky opener on Jan. 2 at Montana State.