Nov. 27, 2004
Final Stats
Cedar City, UT -- Idaho State University came back from six down in the final minute to force overtime, but back-to-back turnovers with 17.1 left led to the winning free throw by Tim Gainey, and the Bengals dropped a heartbreaker to Southern Utah 71-70.
Idaho State (1-2) trailed 30-26 at the half but came back on the strength of a career-high effort from David Schroeder, who scored 29 points in the game, including 17 in the second half and overtime. Jesse Smith also keyed the effort with a 14-point final half/overtime effort, on seven straight makes after missing his first four shots.
"When David gets into a little bit of a rhythm he can make some shots," said head coach Doug Oliver. Jesse wasn't all that good in the first half but he came back and really did a nice job in the second half, so there were some bright spots for us."
Idaho State was fortunate to get the overtime after DeAngelo Newsome hit a layup with 52.6 seconds left to make it 62-56. Jeff Gardner hit a driving layup with 45.9 seconds left to cut it to four, and SUU turned the ball over on the inbounds pass, but ISU missed a short jumper and quickly fouled. That foul started a parade to the line where SUU would miss five of six free throws. The Bengals answered with a three from Schroeder with 28.6 to go, and SUU missed two free throws but got a long rebound. They then hit one of two, and with 9.6 left, Doug D'Amore drove the lane for his only basket to tie it.
In overtime, the Bengals took a 69-67 lead after a Jesse Smith jumper. SUU hit a free throw, and Schroeder followed with one of his own before missing his and the team's only free throw of the game with 1:04 left. Tim Gainey hit it with a 19-foot jumper with 44 seconds left, but trying for an entry pass, Jeff Gardner committed his eighth turnover of the game, and as Gainey grabbed the ball, he was fouled by D'Amore.
Gainey missed the first but hit the second with 17.1 left. ISU set up for a final shot, but Arzelle Lewis drove the lane and lost the handle, and it the ensuing scramble, the clock ran out
"The lesson to be learned here is each and every possession is important, and I stressed this to the team, we are going to play a lot of games like that," said Oliver.
The overtime game was the fourth in the last eight meetings with Southern Utah, with the Thunderbirds winning three of those. The Bengals dropped to 1-8 all-time in Cedar City. These same two teams meet for a rematch in Reed Gym in two weeks on December 11. The Bengals now return home to start a four-game homestand, starting on Wednesday night at 7:05 pm against Montana Tech.
