Jan. 6, 2005
Final Stats
Pocatello, ID -- Idaho State University, one game after shooting a dismal .229 against Portland, were worse on Thursday night, hitting just .192 from the field as the Montana Grizzlies rolled away with a 70-41 win in the conference opener for both schools.
The game marked the second-lowest point total ever for Idaho State in a Big Sky game since the advent of the shot clock in the 1984-85 season, and ISU's 10 field goals made were one less than the 11 they had in their last outing against Portland. 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.
The Griz (7-7, 1-0) came out smoking in the opening half, hitting on eight of their first nine three-pointers. They made their first three shots for a quick 9-0 lead. The Bengals (6-7, 0-1) came back with seven points in a row of their own, but Montana went on a murderous 20-4 run that put ISU in a huge hole. The Bengals made just one field goal over the final 13:51 of the half, and it came with just 1:49 left.
Montana led 45-17 at the break, and although ISU managed to cut it to 22 in the second half, the deficit was too large a lead to overcome. The Bengals, who were 4-for-8 at one point in the second half, were just 2-for-17 down the stretch. ISU was also miserable from three-point land, hitting just 1-of-14, an .071 clip.
Jef Gardner, on the strength of 11-of-12 shooting from the line led with 16 points, and Slim Millien chipped in 12. For Montana, Andrew Strait and Kevin Criswell each scored 15 points. Montana easily won the rebounding battle 43-31.
Both teams return to action on Saturday night, with Idaho State hosting Montana State at 7:05 pm, and Montana traveling to Ogden to take on Weber State at 5:05 pm in a game broadcast on Altitude.
Notes: Idaho State observed a moment of silence prior to the game in honor of Shannon Potter, a close friend of the coaching staff and the wife of former ISU Marketing Director Tim Potter, who passed away early Thursday morning after a two-year battle with breast cancer ... Idaho State had a season-low three assists ... Take away post players Kyle Stevens and Slim Millien, and ISU shot just 4-40 (.100) ... ISU has 21 made field goals the past two games after making at least 21 in every game this season except the opener against Oregon, when they hit 20 ... the win was the first Big Sky win for Montana's Larry Krystokowiak.
