MOSCOW, Idaho -- A sluggish second half was UND's downfall Friday night in the opening round of the Basketball Travelers Classic.
Idaho capitalized on UND's cold second-half shooting to beat the Sioux 63-42 to improve to 3-3. The Sioux dropped to 2-4.
UND will play Eastern Michigan on Saturday night in the second day of the three-day tournament being played at War Memorial Gymnasium. Eastern Michigan fell to Monmouth 64-63 in the opening game.
The Sioux trailed 31-26 at halftime but 21 percent shooting in the second half allowed Idaho to pull away.
"We had a lot of wide-open shots," UND coach Brian Jones said. "The ball didn't go in. We were passing the ball and getting good looks.
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"We have to be able to step up, have confidence and knock them down."
The Sioux finished shooting 15-for-57 from the field (26.3 percent).
Patrick Mitchell led the Sioux with 13 points. Josh Schuler added 10.
Idaho placed three players in double figures, led by Deremy Geiger's 13 points. Brandon Wiley added 12 and Luiz Toledo 11.
The Vandals shot 48 percent.
The Sioux were 5-for-27 on 3-pointers.
UND will wrap up the tournament Sunday against Monmouth.
