Dec. 29, 2008
Final Stats
Pocatello, ID --- It wasn't quite Reggie Miller, but it was good enough as far as Bengal fans far and wide were concerned. With Idaho State down four in the waning moments, Amorrow Morgan scored six points in the final 23.9 seconds, including a baseline jumper with 1.5 left as the Bengals snatched a victory away from the Idaho Vandals 61-59 as ISU heads into conference play on a high note.
The Bengals never led in the second half until the final 1.5 seconds, and a win was probably the furthest thing on anyone's mind after a Mac Hopson three-pointer with 5:07 left gave the Vandals their biggest lead of the night at 54-44, but the Bengals would eventually score 17 points in the final 5:07 to get the win. Matt Stucki, who finished with 15 points and six assists, started the comeback with a pair of free throws and then a three-pointer from the wing to cut it to five heading into the final media timeout.
"I think that was a key, Matt hitting those two free throws and then hitting a three to cut it to five," said head coach Joe O'Brien. "Five is way more manageable than 10, so that really helped."
"Donnie chipped in some big shots, David (Busma) grabbed some big rebounds on the other end, and Amorrow did what he can do, and so it was a good effort all-around. I really like (Chron's) energy and enthusiasm for the game," O'Brien added.
Donnie Carson eventually cut the lead to three with a pair of free throws, and after Idaho answered, Carson drained a huge three with 1:51 left to make it a 56-54. Each team traded free throws, including one from Morgan, the start of his run of ISU's final seven points, that coming with 1:01 left. Idaho ran the clock down and Marvin Jefferson hit a wide open layup with 28.7 left to give Idaho a seemingly safe 59-55 lead. However, driving to the basket, Morgan got fouled by Hopson, and he hit both to make it 59-57.
ISU then trapped Trevor Morris in the backcourt, and he dished to Hopson, who entered the game in the top 30 nationally in assists. However, he dribbled the ball off his foot, and Deividas Busma stole it away, dished the Morgan, who got fouled again with 11.6 left, and he hit both the tie the game. Hopson then pushed off, getting whistled for a turnover and his fifth foul, giving the Bengals the ball underneath.
ISU barely got it in bounds, and Morgan gave it Stucki, who ran into the 6-11 Jefferson. Patiently and with the clock running, he found Morgan on the left baseline, and his shot was pure, giving ISU a 61-59 lead with 1.5 left. Idaho got the ball inbounded, but Kashif Watson never got a shot off, giving ISU a second straight last gasp win against Idaho.
Morgan led the Bengals with 18 points, and Stucki had 15. The Bengals shot very well at .500 for the game, and they outrebounded the Vandals 25-24 with Busma grabbing nine. Mac Hopson finished with 16 for Idaho with five assists but seven turnovers. Kashif Watson was the only other player in double-figures with 10 points. Idaho shot .488 from the field.
Idaho State now hits conference play with an identical 3-10 record as they did last year. They will take on Northern Colorado, who had a comeback win of their own in conference play with an 81-79 win over Northern Arizona.
NOTES: Morgan hit two free throws with seconds to go last year at Idaho to send that game to overtime ... ISU shot .765 from the line ... Matt Stucki had two blocks, as ISU six, three by Morgan ... Donnie Carson and Brandon Wiley were issued double technicals.
