Feb. 8, 2007
Final Stats
Greeley, CO --- Idaho State never trailed against Northern Colorado, but they survived a nearly eight-minute stretch without scoring, and the Bengals came away with a 66-55 road win over the Bears, pushing the Bengals back to .500 overall and putting keeping ISU in the hunt for the Big Sky title.
David Schroeder was the key component for Idaho State, scoring a game-high 24 points, including a career-best 9-for-9 from the free throw line, all in the last 3:52. The Bengals looked to have the game wrapped up early in the second half when they took an 18-point lead at 44-26, but UNC came stroming back on their senior night.
After a quick three by Sean Taibi was answered by Matt Stucki with 17:24 left, it was still 46-29, but Taibi drained two more threes, part of a 12-0 run to cut the lead down to 46-41. After a John Ofoegbu baseline jumper ended the drought, UNC got four more quick points to bring the game to 48-45, but from there, ISU clamped down, especially defensively, forcing the Bears into a 5:55 scoring drought of their own.
Schroeder gave ISU some breathing room with a three-point play with 3:52 left to push the lead to 53-45, and Idaho State was money from the line down the stretch, hitting 11-of-12 in the last 1:30, including 2-of-2 from Nick Rhodes, who was shooting 26% from the line for the season.
Idaho State could afford the drought with a stellar first half in which they shot .625 from the field. The Bengals however had 16 turnovers for the night, and UNC had just three steals. ISU got very balanced scoring in the first half, with four players getting at least six.
Besides Schroeder's 24, Logan Kinghorn and John Ofoegbu each had 11, and Akbar Abdul-Ahad had 10. Schroeder, Ofoegbu, and Nick Rhodes all had six rebounds, as ISU outrebounded the Bears 32-31.
Idaho State now travels to Northern Arizona in a huge game on Saturday night, with tip set for 6:35 pm at the Walkup Skydome. Currently, Idaho State is tied with Montana and Montana State at 7-4 for at lest second place, and all three of those teams could move up into a tie for first if Weber State loses at Portland State as the Wildcats entered the night 9-4 in the league.
NOTES: Nick Rhodes had ISU's only bench points ... the Bengals shot 20-of-24 (.833) from the line ... Amorrow Morgan and Abdul-Ahad each had three assists to lead in that category ... Austin Kilpatrick sat the game out after having his appendix removed on Monday night, but he could play Saturday if he feels up to it ... ISU's 11 steals was the second-most this season ... ISU is now 4-1 on the road in Big Sky play.
