BOISE, Idaho (Interstat) — In a gritty, back-and-forth affair that came down to the final seconds, the Idaho Vandals exacted a measure of revenge and bolstered their postseason resume with a 78-74 victory over the Montana State Bobcats in a Big Sky Conference men’s basketball game Sunday at CenturyLink Arena.

The win avenged a seven-point loss for Idaho in Bozeman just over a month ago and snapped a two-game skid in the series for the Vandals. More importantly, it pushed Idaho to 19-14 overall on the season, while Montana State fell to 18-14.

The game’s defining sequence, and its most important part, unfolded in the tense final minute. With Idaho clinging to a 66-64 lead and just under a minute to play, Montana State’s Jeremiah Davis, who torched the Vandals for a game-high 22 points, came up with a critical steal from Idaho’s Jackson Rasmussen. Davis raced the other way and found Patrick McMahon for a layup to tie the game at 66 with 40 seconds remaining, silencing the pro-Vandal crowd and threatening to force overtime.

Idaho, however, demonstrated the composure that had eluded them at times this season. On the ensuing possession, guard Biko Johnson, the Vandals’ floor general from Carson, California, calmly worked his way into the lane and drew a foul on Montana State’s Christian King. Johnson sank both free throws to restore a two-point Idaho lead with 23 seconds left.

Montana State called a timeout to set up a play, but the Vandals’ defense, which had been vulnerable to the Bobcats’ three-point shooting all night, rose to the occasion. The inbounds pass went to Jed Miller, but his driving attempt was disrupted, leading to a turnover that was secured by Idaho’ Isaiah Brickner with 14 seconds left. Brickner was immediately fouled and made both free throws, extending the lead to 70-66.

The Bobcats’ last gasp came from Davis, who drilled a deep three-pointer with just four seconds on the clock to cut the deficit to 71-69. Idaho’s Miles Klapper was fouled on the inbound and made both free throws, pushing the lead back to four. A desperation heave from Christian King at the buzzer accounted for the final margin, but the game had been sealed by Idaho’s clutch execution from the foul line and a single, pivotal defensive stop when it mattered most.

The contest was a tale of contrasting efficiencies. Montana State relied heavily on the three-point shot, connecting on 11 of 24 attempts from beyond the arc. Davis and Christian King of Kirkland, Washington, who scored 21 points, were the primary catalysts, keeping the Bobcats in front for much of the first half and within striking distance throughout the second.

Idaho, conversely, won the game inside the arc and at the free-throw line. The Vandals shot a blistering 56.4 percent from the field on 31-of-55 shooting, largely by attacking the basket. They attempted 18 free throws to Montana State’s nine, making 12. Idaho also won the possession battle, committing only eight turnovers while forcing six from Montana State, which translated to a more efficient offensive rating of 112.1 to 106.8.

Johnson led Idaho with 19 points and four assists, providing steady leadership. Brickner, from San Diego, was instrumental off the bench with 15 points, including several key baskets in the paint during the second half, and added a block. Jackson Rasmussen of Meridian, Idaho, chipped in 11 points. Trevon Blassingame provided a vital spark with eight points and two blocks in just 15 minutes of action.

For Montana State, Davis’s 22-point effort was complemented by King’s 21 and 18 from Miller of Agoura Hills, California. But the Bobcats’ offense, which managed just four total assists, often devolved into isolation play, and their inability to get to the foul line or secure defensive rebounds at critical junctures proved costly.

Idaho trailed 40-36 at halftime but opened the second period with increased defensive intensity, eventually building a small lead it would never fully relinquish. The Vandals’ ability to answer every Montana State run, culminating in the poised response after Davis’s late steal and assist, underscored a hard-fought conference victory.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Montana State entered as a 63.5 percent favorite and was installed as a 2.5-point favorite by oddsmakers. The combined score of 152 points went over the pregame over/under line of 142.5.

The victory gives Idaho momentum heading into the conference tournament, while Montana State will look to regroup after a narrow defeat in a game that was projected to go its way.