Dec. 29, 2005
Final Stats
Logan, UT --- In an ugly game through and through, Binghamton used a crippling 17-3 run to end the first half, paving the way for a 59-46 win over Idaho State, sending the Bengals to the consolation game of the Gossner Foods Classic.
Idaho State (7-3) never got comfortable offensively, hitting just one three-pointer on the night out of 14 attempts, and that three came with just 3:26 to go off the hand of Matt Stucki.
Up 20-17 with 5:50 left in the first half after a Logan Kinghorn jumper in the lane, ISU didn't hit a field goal the rest of the half, while Binghamton (3-8) rebounded from an awful 3-of-22 shooting start to drain nine of their final 14 shots in the half, taking a 34-22 lead at the break.
ISU made a run, cutting the lead to 52-46 with 2:24 left on a David Schroeder layup, but on ISU's next possession with the same score, Schroeder was called for a charge, and neither team made a basket after that, with the Bearcats hitting 7-of-8 free throws down the stretch.
"I will give Binghamton credit...," said Oliver, "...they sensed that we were unable to play the game tonight and they took advantage of it by posting the win."
The Bengals were hampered by poor free throw shooting in the second half, hitting just 7-of-14, but missing five in a row during a crucial stretch, including three consecutive front ends of one-and-ones.
Binghamton limited ISU to a season-low 44 shots as they slowed the pace of the game to a crawl. ISU shot just .364, which was better than Binghamton's .298, but the Bearcats got 16 offensive rebounds, and they forced 21 turnovers by ISU, which they converted into 22 points.
"When an opponent shoots .298 and still beats you by 13, we have got some issues. Some of them are offensively, some of them are rebounding, and some of them are just lack of understanding what we are trying to get done out there," said Oliver.
The Bengals will play the loser of the Utah State-Arkansas-Little Rock game at 5:30 pm on Thursday.
NOTES: David Schroeder, ISU's all-time career leader in three-point percentage, was 0-for-6 ... Matt Stucki and Kasey Winters led ISU with nine points ... Stucki added a career-high nine rebounds ... the 46 points for the game was fewer than the points scored by ISU in six different halves this season ... Slim Millien blocked five shots, giving him 11 in the last two games ... ISU dropped to 1-1 against Binghamton all-time ... ISU limited Binghamton to just 5-for-21 shooting in the second half.
