Dec. 3, 2005
Final Stats
Pocatello, ID --- In a game that Idaho State never led in regulation, the Bengals produced a miracle on Saturday night against North Dakota State, as the Bengals down 23 late in the first half and 21 in at the break, scored a 91-87 overtime win a pair of clutch free throws at the end of regulation by Slim Millien, and then late in overtime by Ryan Baumgartner.
The Bengals took their first and last lead on an Akbar Abdul-Ahad three-pointer at the 4:14 mark. The Bengals pushed the lead to a seemly safe eight point advantage at with 2:28 left after a pair of Logan Kinghorn free throws. NDSU (2-4), who blew a 16-point first half lead in their last game when they lost to Wisconsin-Green Bay 60-55, cut it to 89-87 on a three-point play with 19.5 left by Mike Nelson, but ISU ran time off, and Ryan Baumgartner, who hadn't shot a free throw all season, drained both with 9.5 left to make it 91-87.
NDSU's Brett Winkelman missed a three with 3.1 left, and ISU ran the clock out.
The Bengals trailed 44-23 at the break after the Bengals hit just 8-of-33 from the field, and a woeful 4-for-13 from the free throw line. ISU actually trailed 44-21 before Slim Millien hit a bucket with four seconds left.
The Bengals came out hot in the second half, and cut it quickly to 10 after just six minutes. With 11 minutes left, Kasey Winters cut the lead to seven, but NDSU went on a 10-3 run over the next 2:46 to bump the lead back to 14, and it was still 14 at 67-53 with under six minutes left when ISU made their late charge.
Logan Kinghron and David Schroeder combined for nine of ISU's next 11 points to make it 67-74 with 2:59 left, but ISU oudln't close it further until, down three at 75-72, Baumgartner banged in an NBA-three from the top of the key with 15.6 left.
The Bengals then made a crucial mistake, as Abdul-Ahad fouled redshirt freshman Ben Woodside in the backcourt. Woodside, who scored a career-high 32, hit both free throws, but Millien answered with two free throws on the other end with 5.0 left and the game went to OT, setting up the climatic ending.
A major key was ISU's improvement from the line, as they were 27-for-30 after the break in the second half and overtime.
Millien had his fourth double-double of the season with 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Schroeder added 20 before fouling out in overtime. Abdul-Ahad had 12 and Logan Kinghorn added 11. NDSU, along with Woodside's 32, got 20 and 10 from Andre Smith and Brett Winkelman added 12.
Idaho State, who was outrebounded 24-16 in the first half, ended up winning the rebounding battle 43-36.
NOTES: The final 25 minutes were played with just two officials as lead referee Michael Greenstein left the game with back spasms ... there were 60 fouls and 85 free throws ... Idaho State blocked seven shots, their team season average ... the win ended a three-game home overtime losing streak and a four-game overtime losing streak overall ... ISU is 4-1 for the first time since 1994-95 ... the game was the 200th of Doug Oliver's head coaching career.
