RUSTON, La. - Idaho out-shot and out-rebounded Louisiana Tech on the road, but the Vandals gave away too many possessions in a 72-66 loss in Western Athletic Conference men's basketball Thursday at the Thomas Assembly Center.

Idaho (6-10, 2-4 WAC) turned the ball over a season-high 23 times - a majority of which were unforced - which gave Louisiana Tech (15-3, 6-0 WAC) 15 extra shot attempts and 33 points off turnovers.

"It's one of those situations where we aren't able to secure the ball," Idaho coach Don Verlin said. "Our guards get a little loose with the ball and get going a little fast, we turn it over, they get easy baskets, the game swings and we're on the wrong side of it again."

Idaho led by as many as 10 points early in the game and held a lead for the game's first 27 minutes by controlling the tempo, contesting jump shots and limiting the Bulldogs to just 2-of-15 shooting from 3-point range in the first half.

The Bulldogs went 8 of 18 from long range in the second half and capitalized on 14 Vandal turnovers in the period to get 20 extra points.

Vandal sophomore guard Connor Hill, the former Post Falls High standout, broke open a 42-all tie with his NCAA-leading fourth four-point play of the season, then Idaho junior Stephen Madison went on a personal 7-2 run to give the Vandals a 53-46 lead with 9:37 to play.

After a Kyle Barone dunk and free throw gave the Vandals a 56-50 lead at the 7:07 mark, Idaho struggled. The Vandals turned the ball over three times in their next four possessions and the Bulldogs scored eight straight points to take a 58-56 lead.

After a Madison free throw, Hill gave Idaho its final lead of the game at 3:08 with a baseline jumper to make it 59-58, but La. Tech’s Kenyon McNeail slipped free for back-to-back 3-pointers. Barone cut the lead to one point with a layup at 1:43, but Idaho turned the ball over on its next four possessions and La. Tech went on an 8-0 run to put the game away in the final minute.

Guard Kenneth Smith led La. Tech with 22 points. Preseason All-WAC guard Raheem Appleby came off the bench and scored 20 points.

On Saturday, Idaho travels to UT Arlington, which is 8-7 overall and 3-3 in WAC play after taking a 61-44 home loss to Seattle U on Thursday.

IDAHO (6-10)

Madison 9-17 2-4 21, Barone 4-8 11-12 19, Harris Jr. 3-9 1-1 7, C. Hill 3-7 1-1 9, McChristian 3-8 0-0 6, Douglas 1-2 0-0 2, Habeeb 1-1 0-0 2, Borton 0-0 0-0 0, Kammerer 0-0 0-0 0, Faines 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-52 15-18 66.

LOUISIANA TECH (15-3)

Kyser 0-4 0-0 0, McNeail 4-11 2-2 13, Gibson 3-7 0-0 6, Smith 8-14 1-2 22, C. Johnson 0-3 0-0 0, Hamilton 0-3 0-0 0, Appleby 9-17 0-0 20, Anderson 1-2 1-3 3, Massey 0-1 0-0 0, J. Johnson 1-3 4-4 6, Lewis 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 27-67 8-11 72.

Halftime_Idaho 30-25. 3-Point Goals_Idaho 3-10 (C. Hill 2-3, Madison 1-3, Harris Jr. 0-2, McChristian 0-2), Louisiana Tech 10-33 (Smith 5-8, McNeail 3-10, Appleby 2-6, J. Johnson 0-1, Hamilton 0-1, Anderson 0-1, Gibson 0-3, C. Johnson 0-3). Fouled Out_Anderson. Rebounds_Idaho 42 (Madison 8), Louisiana Tech 29 (Kyser 8). Assists_Idaho 8 (Madison 3), Louisiana Tech 15 (Smith 8). Total Fouls_Idaho 16, Louisiana Tech 18. A_3,545.