Dec. 29, 2003
Box Score
Santa Clara, CA --- Idaho State got a career-high tying 22 points from Jeff Gardner, but Brigham Young used a 19-1 run sandwiched around halftime for a 90-66 win at the 37th Annual Cable Car Classic.
The Bengals, who have now dropped six straight, stayed neck-and-neck through the first 18 minutes. The Bengals trailed just 32-27 with two minutes left, but BYU hit a pair of three-pointers to close out the half.
"We made some mistakes to end the first half," said head coach Doug Oliver. "They come down on their last two possession and hit three-pointers and we're down 12."
BYU continued that run to start the second half as the Cougars finished off a 19-1 run to take a 51-28 lead.
The Bengals were not done though, as they battled back to cut the lead to 62-50, and missed a shot at cutting it to single digits. BYU pushed the lead back to 18 late, and then tacked on some late points for the 90-66 final score.
Doug Oliver was not happy with the loss, but was pleased with his team's effort against an NCAA Tournament team. "We didn't quit, and the kids kept plugging away. At some point you know you're not going to win, but they kept playing hard and playing together."
The Bengals will play on Tuesday night at 7:00 pm Mountain Time against another NCAA Tournament team from 2003 as they take on Wisconsin-Milwaukee, who lost to Santa Clara by two points.
"Tomorrow is not going to be any easier, as Wisconsin-Milwaukee is a good team," said Oliver. "It will be a whole different preparation. They play full court man pressure every possession of the game. Scouting them we were shocked at how quick they jump into their defense. They will give us a handful."
The Bengals broke out of their season-long shooting slump in the game, hitting 52% from the field, including 64% from three-point range. The Bengals were outrebounded 37-20, and Brigham Young shot 57% for the game, including 67% in the second half.
Along with Garnder's 22, Marquis Poole added 11, and Scott Henry chipped in 10 points. Poole had a full night, adding five rebounds, six assists, and five steals, but he committed a school record-tying 10 turnovers. A Bengal has now recorded 10 turnovers four times all-time, the previous last time was by Mike Graefe against Baylor on December 13, 1985.
