Jan. 20, 2007
Final Stats
Bozeman, MT --- In a game that Idaho State never led, the Bengals missed a golden opportunity to steal a game as Akbar Abdul-Ahad's three-pointer missed with 0.9 left, and the Montana State Bobcats escaped with a 58-57 win, handing the league leaders their first conference loss of the season.
The Bengals had numerous opportunities in the second half to take leads, but they never once capitalized. Down 51-50, Matt Stucki missed a three in the corner with 5:36 left, and the Bobcats raced the lead back to 58-51, but they would not score again, setting up the frentic finish.
Stucki was fouled with 40.9 left, but made just one of the two free throws to cut the lead to 58-57. After Casey Durham was fouled, he missed a one-and-one opportunity, and ISU set up a final play. Schroeder curled around a screen, but Abdul-Ahad couldn't get the ball to him, and he launched a contested three that rimmed out. Durham got the rebound and was fouled, and he missed both free throws, but ISU couldn't get a shot off in time.
The Bengals were hindered by a poor shooting night, shooting just .345 for the game, although ISU was able to outrebound the Bobcats 41-34, led by Nick Rhodes, who had a career-high 14.
The Bengals never led in the game, although they tied the game once, at 44-44 in the second half at the 10:05 mark on a Logan Kinghorn basket, part of a 16-point night. Schroeder also had 16, but he was off, going just 5-for-15 on the night.
Carlos Taylor hurt the Bengals with 19 points, including a 13-point first half. Taylor was recruited originally to Florida International by Joe O'Brien when he was an assistant there, and then ended up at Southeastern Iowa. The Bengals, who were ranked among the top 30 nationally in three-point percentage, shot just .261 for the game, going 6-for-23.
The Bengals drop to 10-9 overall, and 5-1 in the Big Sky, and they remain in first place, while Montana State improves to 6-13 overall and 3-3 in the Big Sky. The Bengals caught a slight break with Weber State losing in overtime to Montana 89-85, dropping to 5-3 in the conference.
NOTES: The loss ended ISU's 5-0 start, making it tied for ISU's second-best Big Sky start ever ... Kinghorn and Schroeder each tied for the team lead with 16 points, but Kinghorn had seven turnovers ... John Ofoegbu scored only two points, ending his double-figure scoring streak at five straight ... Abdul-Ahad scored just eight points, only the third time this season he failed to hit double-figures ... Idaho State has their next four games at home, starting with a huge game on Thursday night against Weber State, tipping off at 7:05 pm at Holt Arena.
