Motioning toward a group of hovering reporters last night, University of Idaho guard Jordan Brooks told a friend in the Stan Sheriff Center stands, "I don't usually talk to these guys (on the road)."

Of course, the Vandals, who had lost 27 consecutive games away from home, haven't usually had much to talk about on the road, either.

Which might explain Brooks' machine gun burst of loquaciousness in the wake of an 85-77 overtime victory over the University of Hawai'i men's basketball team.

That and the double-double (15 points, 14 assists) that helped power it.

Indeed, it was a stunning reversal of roles that saw the Vandals win away from Moscow for the first time in nearly two seasons and the Rainbow Warriors drop a rare conference game on their home floor to a second division Western Athletic Conference team. It was a dizzying turn of events that sent the smallest home crowd of the season, 3,911, out into the cold night more than a little disbelieving. And they were not alone.

For as haunting as the third consecutive loss was for the 11-15 (7-6 WAC) 'Bows, the way it played out made it ignominiously so. For despite the flatness UH played with, it had the penultimate home game of this season all but gift-wrapped by Idaho and ready for the taking.

After trailing most of the way and on the verge of being knocked out with 38.9 seconds remaining, the 'Bows had the game thrust into their hands. Brooks lost the ball out of bounds trying to split defenders Bobby Nash and Adhar Mayen and was then assessed a technical foul for arguing the call. Nash hit the two free throws and then two more after being hacked by Clyde Johnson.

Suddenly, UH was up 68-65 and it looked like another late fade by the 7-19 (4-10 WAC) Vandals and a stirring rally by the 'Bows. At least until Michael Crowell nailed a 3-pointer with 22 seconds remaining and Mike Kale blocked Bill Amis' shot at the buzzer to force overtime.

In overtime the meltdown was complete with Idaho outscoring UH 17-9, including a dunk and the WAC's worst free-throw-shooting team icing it by making six consecutive free throws.

"It is disappointing to lose at home, but it is doubly disappointing when you have a lead and all you have to do is come down and make a stop on defense," Hawai'i head coach Bob Nash said. "When the game is in the balance, you have to be able to make a stop on defense."

The 'Bows weren't and Idaho, for the first time in a long time, was. Which is why Brooks and the Vandals had plenty to say.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.