March 3, 2007
Final Stats
Missoula, MT --- Idaho State had a 13-point lead at the 9:56 mark of the second half, but the didn't hit another field goal until overtime, and by then it was too late as the Bengals were eliminated 70-63 by #3 seeded Montana. The Grizzlies now advance to take on Northern Arizona in the first semifinal game on Tuesday at 5:05 pm in Ogden.
The Bengals, who finished the season 13-17, had a 54-41 lead after David Schroeder capped off a 13-3 run with a long three-pointer, but Idaho State missed every single field goal they tried down the stretch. Eventually, Montana tied the game at 58-58 with 1:54 to go when Bryan Ellis made the first of two free throws.
Matt Stucki tried to win it for ISU, but he missed his short 8-footer in the lane, and the rebound went to Montana with 4.5 left. Cameron Rundles launched a wild runner off the rim and the game went to overtime between the two teams for the second time in six days.
Montana drew first blood in overtime, getting a Mike Chavez three, the last of his 16 team-high 16 points, but Akbar Abdul-Ahad countered with the last of his six threes to tie it at 61. After Andrew Strait made a driving layup, Abdul-Ahad did the same to tie it again, but ISU would not score. With 2:33 left, Mike Chavez, who led Montana with 16 points off the bench, scored the last of his four threes to give Montana the lead they would never relinquish.
ISU had chances, but Stucki missed a short jumper, and Nick Rhodes was blocked from point-blank range with just over a minute left. ISU, forced to play defense, forced a bad shot, but Andrew Strait tipped the rebound out to Ellis, who was fouled, and Montana hit their final four free throws in the last 23.2 to seal it.
The loss ended the brilliant career of David Schroeder, who scored 18 points on the night, second only to Abdul-Ahad's 22 threes. Idaho State controlled the boards for the most part, winning that battle 35-31, although the Grizzlies (17-14) got a few key ones late. Aside from Chavez, Jordan Hasquet had 11, Strait added 10, as did Bryan Ellis. Montana outshot ISU .449 to .393, and ISU shot just .643 from the line, only the second time in the last 15 games they failed to shoot .667 from the charity stripe.
NOTES: It was the first overtime game for the Bengals in their Big Sky Tourney history, spanning 20 tournaments, and Idaho State ended the season 0-5 in overtime ... over the last three years, the program is 1-9 in their last 10 overtime games ... Schroeder and Abdul-Ahad finished the season with 79 three-pointers apiece, tying Jeff Gardner for second-most in a season at Idaho State ... Montana never led by more than four until there were 23.5 seconds left ... Montana has now won six consecutive tournament games, dating back to their last loss, an 81-81 loss in Pocatello in the 2004 quarterfinals ... Schroeder became the 24th 500-point scorer in ISU history for a season.
