Jan. 15, 2009
Final Stats
Pocatello, ID --- Amorrow Morgan put the challenge to his teammates, and then delivered with a magnificent performance, scoring 23 points, including a pair of back-breaking three-point plays within 12 seconds of each other as Idaho State pushed past Montana 77-67, the first time in five games that a Bengal-Grizzly game wasn't decided by two points or in overtime.
Morgan didn't score until the 2:17 mark of the first half with ISU leading just 24-22, but he scored eight of ISU's final nine points as the Bengals to a 33-26 lead into the half as ISU led for 18:20 of the half. For comparison, ISU had led for just 15:36 over the previous eight games all told.
Montana eventually made a push, getting five straight points from Kyle Sharp to cut the lead to one, and after the teams traded baskets, Anthony Johnson, who entered the game averaging a league-best 24.0 points in conference games, hit a quick layup with 11:31 left to take a one point lead at 46-45, and they pushed it to 48-45 after a putback by Brian Qvale, but Morgan again had an answer.
Amorrow hit two free throws, and then grabbed a big rebound on a missed three, eventually leading to a Demetrius Monroe basket and putting the lead back in ISU's favor. Johnson, who scored 20, responded with a pretty pull-up jumper for Montana's last lead, as Matt Stucki hit a pair of free throws, part of his 17-point performance, and then drained a three in the corner in front of the ISU bench for a 54-50 lead.
Austin Kilpatrick followed that with the third of his threes as he bounced out of a season-long slump with 10 season-best 10 points. Up 62-54, Morgan then basically put the game away with his back-to-back three-point plays. First, he drove on the left side hitting a layup after being fouled by Jack McGillis with 4:40 left. ISU then trapped in the back court, and Morgan stole the ball away from Jordan Hasquet, and driving in he was fouled from behind but managed to get the shot up anyway, and in just 12 seconds it was a 14-point lead. Montana would get it down to nine three times in the final three minutes, but no closer.
Idaho State, who entered the game second in the league in field goal percentage in conference games, shot a season-best .591 from the field, including 14-of-20 in the second half. The Bengals limited the Griz to just .422 from the field as Montana hoisted 39 second half shots to ISU's 20. The Bengals were outrebounded in the contest 32-30.
Morgan's 23 was a game-high, and Stucki had 17 and Kilpatrick 10. For Montana, along with Johnson's 20, Hasquet had 12 and Sharp had 10. Hasquet had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Lucas Steijn was ISU's top rebounder with six.
The Bengals now host Montana State, who just handed Weber State their conference loss on Thursday night 75-70 in the Dee Events Center.
NOTES: The 23 points was Morgan's most since lighting up Boise State for 31 ... Idaho State improved to 2-37 under Joe O'Brien when getting outrebounded ... Kilpatrick's 10 points means ISU has had a player break double-figures for the first time this season in four straight games ... Deividas Busma had a career-high four blocks as ISU racked up six ... the win was the first regular season home win over Montana for O'Brien, who had lost in OT in each of the last two years.
