Idaho stays in hunt for Big Sky bye, top North Dakota 61-58

Feb 14, 2016, 12:46 am

MOSCOW, Idaho -- Chad Sherwood and Nahshon George each scored 11 points Saturday night and Idaho converted 6 of 7 from the line in the final three minutes to hold off North Dakota 61-58 and remain in the hunt for one of four first-round byes in the Big Sky Conference tournament.

The Vandals have now won four of their last five and earned a season sweep of the Fighting Hawks, with both games decided by three points.

The teams played to a 22-22 draw in the first half and neither team could hold the lead until Sherwood drilled a 3-pointer and Arkadiy Mkrtychyan added a layup to give Idaho a 49-44 advantage it never relinquished.

Idaho (16-10, 8-5) shot 51.1 percent from the field (23-45) and held a 38-21 advantage on the boards.

Drick Bernstine and Corey Baldwin each scored 15 points to pace North Dakota(12-12, 7-6).