Jan. 13, 2008
Final Stats
Pocatello, ID --- Idaho State got a career-high tying 26 points from Matt Stucki, but the biggest stat of the day was turnovers and offensive rebounds, and ISU had too many of one and allowed too many of the other as Portland State picked up their first road conference win of the season as the Vikings won 71-61, making the Bengals the last team to pick up a conference loss.
The Bengals (5-11, 2-1) limited the Vikings (10-8, 3-2) to just .351 shooting from the game, but the Vikings grabbed 17 offensive boards, which amounted to 20 points. The Bengals also had 19 turnovers, and amount compounded by the fact that Portland State had just four steals. PSU turned those turnovers into 25 points, which more than made up for their poor shooting night.
After a back-and-forth first half that saw six lead changes and five ties, the Bengals retook the lead quickly on a Lucas Steijn three-point play. However, PSU answered with a layup, and then diminutive Jeremiah Dominguez hit one of his two three-pointers to give the Vikings the lead at 37-34, and they would never relinquish it. After an Alex Tiefenthaler three (one of his five) made it 45-37, ISU made a big push, cutting it to 45-43 after four straight free throws from Morgan and Stucki, but Tiefenthaler hit another three, deadening the crowd and starting PSU towards the win.
ISU stayed within striking range until Scott Morrison, who picked up his fourth double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds, scored six straight points, including a back-breaking tip-in with 4:18 to go.
"I don't recall in my 30 years in this business of holding a team to 35% shooting, and not being in it in the last minute or two," said head coach Joe O'Brien. "We had 19 tunrovers and they only had four steals, so that tells you the type of turnovers they were."
Idaho State owned their largest lead of the game at 27-19 at just over five to go in the first half, but PSU ended the half on a 13-4 run to take a one-point lead into the locker room. "I thought we played pretty well in the first half until the last couple of minutes when we let Alex Tiefenthaler knock down a couple of threes. I really think he (Tiefenthaler) was a one-man wrecking crew for our basketball team. He was responsible for the game going from an eight point lead for us to an eight point lead to them."
"Give them credit," added O'Brien, "they are very athletic and got out and defended passing lanes and made us work really hard."
Stucki's 26 point-day equaled his 26 points in an overtime win at Idaho earlier this season. He also had a career-high 11-for-13 day from the foul line, including 8-for-8 in the second half. Amorrow Morgan was the only other Bengal in double-figures with 11 points. For Portland State, Deonte Huff very quietly led the Vikings with 17 points, and Tiefenthaler and Morrison had 16 each. Domingue had 13 points and seven assists with just one turnover.
Idaho State now heads out on the road to take on Montana on Thursday night and Montana State on Saturday night. Both games tip-off at 7:05 pm.
NOTES: Portland State has won three straight in Pocatello ... the game featured 53 free throws and 45 fouls ... ISU shot .571 in the first half, but just .318 in the second half, and missed their first nine threes until Austin Kilpatrick hit one with 0.6 left ... ISU is now 0-11 when getting outrebounded.
