Feb. 26, 2007
Final Stats
Pocatello, ID --- Idaho State University really has seen this before, but they are now down to one last chance at a conference tournament berth. It's down to Montana State on Tuesday night after the Bengals lost 72-71 to Montana in overtime after Andrew Strait hit a layup with 2.9 seconds left for the win.
The loss guaranteed a couple of things, foremost that Idaho State will have to win to get into the conference tournament, a win that has eluded them in their last four games. It also means Montana State will have something to play for, as the Bobcats would host Portland State with a win, but have to travel to Portland State with a loss.
It also means for the third time in four years, ISU has to win on Senior Night to qualify for the tournament. In 2004, ISU defeated Eastern Washington 92-91 in double-overtime to qualify, and in 2006, ISU lost to Eastern 94-87 to miss the tournament.
The Bengals played their hearts out, and held a 65-61 lead after a pair of Akbar Abdul-Ahad free throws with 1:56 left, but Bryan Ellis hit a layup and missed his free throw to cut it to 65-63 with 1:27 left. The Griz tied it with 34.3 left when Jordan Hasquet made two free throws, and ISU held for the last shot, but David Schroeder's turn-around jumper in the lane was long, and the game went to overtime.
The Griz took a three point lead when Bryan Ellis hit a triple, and it was answered by Nick Rhodes. Both teams couldn't find a way to score until Cameron Rundles hit a baseline jumper with 30:1 left to make it 70-67. David Schroeder was then fouled trying to drive, and after making the first free throw, he missed the second but he got his own rebound and kicked the ball to Akbar Abdul-Ahad, who hit a three from the angle right to give ISU a 71-70 lead with 11.8 left.
The Griz called a timeout with 8.1 left, and Rundles drove in, dished to Strait, who scored while being bumped by Austin Kilpatrick with 2.9 left. Strait missed his free throw, and Abdul-Ahad raced to half-court and tried a desperation three, but Strait got a hand on it, ending the game.
The Bengals got a huge night off the bench from John Ofoegbu, who rebounded from a 1-for-11 weekend for a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Schroeder added 16, and Matt Stucki scored 12. For the Griz, Jodran Hasquet and Rundles each had 17, and Strait had 12. Hasquet and Stuart Mayes each grabbed 13 rebounds, each getting six offensive boards as well as Montana outrebounded ISU 41-32.
The Bengals, who lost for the second time in three games on a last second shot when shooting exactly .500 (Eastern Washington hit a three-pointer with 2.6 left), have now lost five conference games of their eight conference games by four points or less, two of those in overtime.
NOTES: ISU will say goodbye to their four seniors, David Schroeder, Akbar Abdul-Ahad, Nicholas Rhodes, and John Ofoegbu in a ceremony prior to tip-off ... Idaho State can only qualify as the #6 seed, although they will officially tie for fifth with a win ... Montana was just 9-for-17 from the free throw line ... neither team led by more than six points ... Schroeder moved into 10th place on the ISU scoring list ... Montana had 18 assists on 26 baskets.
