Jan. 17, 2009
Final Stats
Pocatello, ID --- When Montana State hit their first two shots of the game, taking a 4-3 lead, it looked like it might be a long night defensively for the Bengals. Turned out that couldn't have been further from the truth. Idaho State held Montana State to just .174 shooting in the first half, allowing just 12 points, the fewest ever in the shot clock era, as ISU rolled past Montana State 64-43, giving ISU two straight wins and pushing the Bengals into third place in the Big Sky Conference.
The 43 points allowed by the Bengals was the fewest allowed by ISU to a Division I opponent in the shot clock era since February 5, 1987, when ISU defeated Idaho 69-41 in Holt Arena, and it was the second fewest in the shot clock era all told.
MSU eventually took a 6-3 lead on a Divaldo Mbunga layup at the 17:15 mark, but Donnie Carson tied it up on an and-one play, and then Matt Stucki gave ISU the lead for good with a jumper in the lane to make it 8-6. ISU then horded the Bobcats into a 17:15 straight of field goal futility, as the Bobcats made just one field goal in that final time frame, going just 1-for-19 to end the half, with Erik Rush's three-point play at the 8:09 mark accounting for the only field goal.
During that stead, ISU slowly put the game out of reach by halftime. Amorrow Morgan stole an inbounds pass and hit Matt Stucki for a fast-break flush to make it 12-6, Lucas Steijn converted ISU's third three-point play of the first nine minutes to make it 15-6, and Demetrius Monroe hit back-to-back baskets to make it 19-6 and cap a 16-2 run.
Chron Tatum hit a pair of jumpers late, and ISU closed the half with a runner by Morgan for a 29-12 halftime lead. Matt Stucki converted ISU's fourth three-point play in four tries to open the second half, giving ISU a 20-point lead, but as cold as MSU was to end the first half, they were that hot to start the second, hitting five of their first six shots, and 7-of-11 to creep back within 13 on a Will Bynum steal and dunk and then after a free throw to within 11 on a three-pointer by Cody Anderson. However, the Bobcats, who were coming off a stunning 75-70 win at previously unbeaten Weber State, couldn't ever get within single figures as ISU embarked on a 13-1 run.
First Morgan answered with a jumper, and then Stucki did likewise. Morgan's two free throws countered one by Cameron Henderson, and then Tatum converted 3-of-4 to make it 48-29. Donnie Carson and Matt Stucki then hit jumpers to give ISU a 23-point lead, their largest of the game before both teams played out the string.
Idaho State had their offense spread out everywhere, but Stucki led everyone with 17 points, and Tatum and Morgan each had 12. Donnie Carson added nine and a game-high eight boards. For MSU, Divaldo Mbunga was the only player in double-figures with 14. Idaho State, who shot .440 for the game and .588 in the second half, outrebounded MSU 35-30, holding MSU to .320 from the field. Idaho State did not hit a three-pointer, but committed a paltry nine turnovers and shot .833 from the stripe.
The Bengals now head to Flagstaff to take on Northern Arizona on Thursday night at 6:35 pm Mountain Time. The Lumberjacks are taking on Sacramento State on Sunday afternoon.
NOTES: ISU's all-time shot clock era for fewest points allowed is 31 as ISU beat Montana Tech 78-31 on December 15, 2000 ... it was the fewest points allowed to Montana State since 1977, when MSU tried the stall tactics against the Bengals the year ISU went to the Elite Eight. ISU won that game at Holt Arena 31-11 ... ISU had a season-high seven blocks, with six players recording at least one ... The 43 points was the fewest allowed against a Division I in a span of 579 games, or 21 years, 11 months, 19 days ... ISU didn't record a three-pointer, the first time since February 19 2005 when ISU lost 77-35 to Eastern Washington, a span of 109 games.
