Dec. 19, 2006
Final Stats
Post-Game Press Conference Video Highlights
Pocatello, ID --- David Schroeder kept ISU in the game in the first half, but the team as a whole pulled away in the second half, as ISU outrebounded the Utah Valley State Wolverines 41-20, including 24-8 in the second half as the Bengals improved to 5-6 overall and 4-0 at home with a 76-62 win over UVSC.
The Bengals did in on the strength of a near perfect second half, outscoring UVSC (6-5) 44-29 in the second half. The Bengals were trailing 36-32 after Ryan Toolson opened the second half with a long three, but ISU battled back, and took their first second half lead on a John Ofoegbu dunk at 39-38. The lead flip-flopped four straight times, but Demetrius Monroe took a zip pass from Akbar Abdul-Ahad for a fast break layup to make it 45-43, and ISU never trailed again.
A pair of Richard Troyer free throws with 8:07 left made it 55-54 ISU, but the Bengals held the Wolverines to just one basket over the next seven minutes, outscoring UVSC 20-4. Ofoegbu started it with a pair of free throws, and then Logan Kinghorn, who had seven points and seven rebounds, hit a huge three to make it 60-54. Matt Stucki added a three-point play, and Schroeder followed with a three and it was basically over from there.
ISU had the lowest shooting night in Holt so far at just .478, but they held UVSC to just .408, well below their .478 season average. The Bengals made UVSC pay from the line, hitting 22-of-29, including 8-of-11 by Schroeder and 7-of-9 by Ofoegbu. Schroeder and Abdul-Ahad were both 4-for-6 from three-point range, but UVSC stayed in it by going 12-for-23 from long distance.
David Schroeder had another double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds, Abdul-Ahad had 16, and Ofoegbu had his second straight double-fiigure scoring game, this with 11. Ryan Toolson, UVSC's leading scorer, had 19 points, all off the bench, including five threes, many from well beyond NBA range. David Heck chipped in 11, but just two after the opening 5:33 of the game.
Idaho State gets to head to Salt Lake tonight to get ready to travel to Illinois, who improved to 11-2 after winning on Tuesday night 73-70 over Missouri.
NOTES: Schroeder is now 15-for-20 this season from three-point range in Holt Arena ... the game was the first to be decided by 10-19 points this season, either way ... ISU tried out a new starting lineup with Ofoegbu and Monroe both starting, and Matt Stucki coming off the bench ... three UVSC players, Jordan Brady, Richard Troyer, and Joe Walker ... Idaho State had 14 second chance points.
