Dec. 17, 2002
Box Score
Pocatello, ID -- Idaho State opened up newly renovated Reed Gym in grand style, as the Bengals used strong outside shooting and pure hustle to defeat the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 84-72, running their winning streak to three.
Jeremy Brown hit his first five shots, including four three-pointers, part of his 16-point first half which paced ISU. Brown ended the game with 25 points and seven rebounds. The Bengals, who led 34-32 at the break, were in danger of falling out of the game at the 13-minute mark of the second half. The Golden Eagles (4-4), who went 27-7 last year in winning the Ohio Valley regular season title, went up 51-45 on a three-point play by Will Moore, Tech's largest lead of the game.
Jesse Smith, who gave a yeoman's effort with four points, six board and two assists in 18 minutes, hit Alvin Brooks for a backdoor layup, and Brown hit his fifth three-pointer of the night to cut it to 51-50, and Ray Munyagi hit both ends of a one-and-one for a brief 52-51 lead. After a Damien Kinloch basket gave Tech it's last lead, Danny Boticki fed David Schroeder for a long three to give ISU the lead for good. Boticki then returned the favor twice to Schroeder for two more threes, and then Schroeder canned another, giving ISU 12 points in a 2:55 span on four field goals for a 64-60 lead.
ISU then made three straight layups, combined with two Marquis Poole free throws for a nine-point lead , and ISU was never threatened after that. Tech tried to stay within striking distance by fouling nine times in the final 1:53, but ISU hit 11 free throws down the stretch.
Along with Brown's season-high 25, Boticki added 12, Scott Henry had his fourth double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, and David Schroeder had 10. Idaho State looks to shoot above the .500 mark on Saturday when they host Eastern Oregon at 7:05 pm in Reed Gym.
