Jan. 2, 2005
Final Stats
Portland, OR -- Idaho State University couldn't get anything done of the offensive end of the floor, shooting just .229 for the game as the University of Portland handed the Bengals a 67-35 loss to end ISU's three-game winning streak. The 35 points scored by ISU was the lowest point total ever scored during the shot clock era, and the lowest in 28 years.
The 35 points was ISU's fewest since the 1976-77 season, a span of 776 games, when Idaho State was held to just 31 points, but defeated Montana State 31-11. The previous lowest point total during the shot clock ear occurred late in 1993 when Idaho State lost to Idaho in the final game of the regular season 52-43.
Idaho State, who dropped to 6-6, trailed at the break 38-17, and it could have been worse, but Portland was just 13-of-24 from the foul line. The Bengals shot just .286 in the opening half, but trailed by just 13 at 25-12 when Portland (11-4) closed the half on a 13-5 run. Idaho State was hampered by foul trouble in the first half as both Doug Hardy and Jesse Smith picked up three fouls, and three others had two.
Things got no better in the second half as ISU hit on just 5-of-27 shots, a .185 percentage. Doug D'Amore off the bench was the leading scorer with eight points as no Bengal hit for double-figures. Slim Millien, who came into the game leading the team with a 14.8 scoring average, was shutout, going 0-for-2 in just 13 minutes of action.
The game continued an odd trend for ISU this year, as in their three games vs. schools from Oregon, they are 0-3, getting outscored by 22.3 points per game. In their other nine games, ISU is 6-3 with a scoring margin of +11.3, and the three losses were all by one possession, losing by three, and then by one and three in overtime.
The two teams combined for 39 turnovers and 40 fouls, leading to the sloppy pace of play. "It was an ugly game, for both teams," said Doug Oliver after the game. "I think both teams set basketball back a few years tonight."
"Offensively we were awful. It will be interesting to see how the kids respond to this with conference play starting next week." On whether or not he would watch any of the game film, Oliver replied, "I'm not going to show that to the team. I don't think I'll watch it either. I don't think I can watch it again"
The Bengals fortunately can forget about the game as the Bengal host Montana on Thursday night at 7:05 pm in Reed Gym in the conference opener for both schools.
Notes: The Bengals dropped to 1-3 on the road, and it was the first time Doug Oliver has lost to Portland in Portland, as he was 2-0 going into the game ... it was ISU's first day game of the season ... the Bengals play their final non-conference game on January 25 at Utah Valley State ... ISU's last three meetings with Montana in Reed Gym have all been decided on the final possession.
