Jan. 18, 2003
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Pocatello, ID---Rashad Kirkland was ISU's best player, and he proved it with a game-winning layup with 3.1 left to give the Idaho State Bengals a dramatic come-from-behind 56-55 win over Montana State. With the win Idaho State improves to 8-7 on the season, and their 1-1 record is good for a tie for third place.
The winning shot came after a huge defensive stand over the final 4:08. Pete Conway's baseline jumper gave the Bobcats (7-10, 1-3 Big Sky) a 55-51 lead. David Schroeder hit a backdoor layup after a perfect Danny Boticki entry pass. Montana State then was able to run nearly 1:34 off the clock before Boticki, who was only supposed to play a few minutes after missing the last three games after an emergency appendectomy, blocked Conway's three-pointer.
Down 55-53, Scott Henry was fouled but could only hit one of two free throws to cut the game to 55-54 with 49.8 left. After nearly getting a backcourt steal, Montana State ran time off the clock, but Jason Erickson missed a three, Kirkland got the rebound, and called timeout.
Marquis Poole entered for Boticki with 14.0 left, took the inbounds pass, dribbled right and passed to Schroeder, who cut left, stopped, and spun right wheeling the ball to Kirkland. Rashad, who had a game-high 17 points, took one power dribble, went around Casey Reynolds, and laid it in with 3.1 left.
Montana State inbounded to Frank Brown deep in their own backcourt, and Brown never got a shot off in time.
The Bengals were again outrebounded, this time 35-20, but ISU got seven blocks and 11 steals while turning the ball over just 10 times. Scott Henry added 11 points for ISU, and Kirkland had a game-high eight rebounds. Marquis Poole, who was limited to just 17 minutes due to foul trouble, had four assists and no turnovers, giving him 12 assists and zero turnovers in Big Sky play.
Montana State was led by Pete Conway's 17, Jason Erickson had 14, and Bo Segeberg added 10.
