Dec. 20, 2008
Final Stats
Pocatello, ID --- Utah State defined the term "spreading around the offense" as they had three players with 11 points, and three others between eight and 10 points, as the Aggies held off a hard charge by the Bengals for a 67-57 win, their 10th straight in the series.
Idaho State never got within five in the second half, but the Aggies never did runaway with things, as the Bengals kept it within single digits over the last nine minutes. Idaho State eventually whittled the game down to six with 25.1 left on a Kal Bay three-pointer from the wing, but ISU was just 3-for-13 from the three for the game, and USU hit their final four free throws.
Idaho State picked up another big defensive effort, holding the nation's leading field goal percentage team to just .436 from the field. Idaho State forced the issue defensively, forcing the Aggie to attempt 25 of their 55 shots from the three-point line, something ISU was keying on.
"Defensively we wanted to double Wilkinson and Wesley, who shoot 75% or so, make them pass and make them hit some longer shots, and to Utah State's credit, they did that. Those three-pointers were all big shots for them," said O'Brien, adding, "You know, there's a reason that Stew's teams get wins, and why they shoot a high percentage, so it was good to disrupt a part of their game, but they are a very talented team, and they are very patient and they work hard to get good shots."
The Bengals got a huge game off the bench from Lucas Steijn, who was ISU's only double-figure scorer with 15 points, hitting all four of his shots from the field and 7-of-9 from the line. Deividas Busma was next up with eight points, and he was 4-for-5 shooting. Demetrius Monroe led ISU with eight boards, but only had two points.
Idaho State never led in the contest, and it was tied just once, at 2-2. The Bengals were down seven at the half, and nearly had that to four as Matt Stucki's long desperation runner just missed at the gun. USU eventually pushed the lead to as much as 15 before the Bengals started their comeback, one that eventually fell short.
NOTES: The 10-point loss dwarfed the last meeting between the two, which was a 37-point loss in 2006 ... Steijn's 15 points were his Division I high, tying the 15 he had against Eastern Washington ... ISU committed a season-low seven turnovers ... the Aggies scored just two second chance points, and none in the final 36:55.
