Feb. 15, 2003
Box Score
Missoula, MT --- David Bell hit a crushing, and slightly controversial three-pointer with 11.3 seconds left, giving Montana an insurmountable five-point lead on the way to a 69-65 win over Idaho State.
Bell's three was his only one of the night, as tough Bengal defense held Montana's elading scorer to just four points before his late shot. With 44.3 remaining and the Bengals down three at 65-62, Marquis Poole drove the lane and was fouled, nearly draining his initial shot. Poole missed the first free throw but made the second, and ISU elected to play defense down 65-63.
With the shot clock running out, Bell drove right, and appeared to push off on Marquis Poole to get open, as Poole went down. Bell then got set and nailed his only three-pointer of the night.
The Bengals' ultimate downfall was at the free throw line, where ISU was just 9-for-18, including 2-for-6 by Poole. ISU was outrebounded 38-34, but outshot Montana .448 to .434 from the field.
David Schroeder led all scorers with 19 points. Poole had 14 and Rashad Kirkland, who made just his fourth start, had 10. Danny Boticki started in place of Jeremy Brown, who was suspended indefinitely by Doug Oliver on Wednesday for a unspecified violation of team rules.
Idaho State is now tied for fifth place in the league with Northern Arizona and Sacramento State at 4-6, with both of those two opponents coming to Reed Gym next week. Montana and Montana State are tied for third at 5-6, just a half-game up on ISU, meaning that an ISU sweep would put them no worse then a tie for third place heading in to the final weekend
