MISSOULA, Mont. - Idaho's men's basketball team started off on a sour note and clawed its way back into the game, but for the second straight road contest, the plays weren't there late in a 57-52 loss to Montana on Thursday.

Idaho (1-2) shot 21.4 percent in the first half and, despite dominating the second 20 minutes, couldn't climb back. Montana (2-1) built its early lead with an assault from the 3-point line after hitting seven of its 12 attempts in the first half.

"It was a rough-and-tumble game," Idaho coach Don Verlin said. "It was a well-played game on both ends. You can't take anything away from Montana, they're a good basketball team in the Northwest."

It was the second game in a row between the two teams that came down to a last-second shot attempt, and the result was identical, as senior guard Deremy Geiger's 3-pointer with less than a second remaining came up short.

Idaho outshot Montana, with a 34.7 (17 of 49) percentage overall and 28.6 (4 of 14) from 3-point range. The Griz went 18 of 57 (.316) overall and 8 of 19 (.421) from 3-point range. Idaho held a 44-36 rebounding edge, but the Vandals also turned it over 15 times.

Idaho plays Lewis-Clark State on Wednesday at Boise.

IDAHO (1-2)

Bandoumel 2-3 2-2 6, Madison 5-8 1-2 14, Barone 4-9 4-7 12, Tatum 1-5 0-1 2, Geiger 1-8 3-4 6, Starke 3-6 2-2 8, Habeeb 1-4 2-4 4, McChristian 0-0 0-0 0, Borton 0-4 0-0 0, Faines 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 17-49 14-22 52.

MONTANA (2-1)

Steward 1-8 6-8 8, Ward 0-5 1-2 1, Hutchison 0-1 2-2 2, Cherry 9-19 2-6 24, Jamar 4-12 2-2 13, Wood 0-1 0-0 0, DeShields 0-1 0-0 0, Stockton 1-5 0-0 3, Weisner 0-0 0-0 0, Reader 3-5 0-1 6. Totals 18-57 13-21 57.

Halftime_Montana 34-19. 3-Point Goals_Idaho 4-14 (Madison 3-4, Geiger 1-6, Habeeb 0-1, Borton 0-3), Montana 8-19 (Cherry 4-6, Jamar 3-6, Stockton 1-4, Steward 0-1, Wood 0-1, Ward 0-1). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Idaho 44 (Barone 13), Montana 36 (Cherry 11). Assists_Idaho 10 (Tatum 5), Montana 11 (Cherry 4). Total Fouls_Idaho 20, Montana 21. Technical_Hutchison. A_2,684.