Dec. 11, 2009
Final Stats
Complete Stat Packet: Southern California 59, Idaho State 53 
Los Angeles, CA --- It was there for the taking as ISU overcame a 19-point first half deficit to take a second half lead, but poor free throw shooting and a school record 13 blocked shots by Southern California added up to a heartwrenching 59-53 Trojan victory in a game ISU was in until the very end.
The Bengals struggled mightily early, opening the game with just two field goals over the first 10 minutes, and they found themselves in a gaping 25-6 hole with under 10 minutes to go, but the Bengals finally found a rhythm, going on a 10-0 run started with a Sherrod Baldwin basket, and highlighted by a three-pointer from Austin Kilpatrick. Down 31-18 in the final minute, Broderick Gilchrist hit a layup and Amorrow Morgan added a late free throw to make it 31-21 at the break.
ISU then opened the second half on a 6-0 run, and ISU finally took their first lead at the 12:44 mark when Mike Lacey, who scored a career-high eight points, hit his second career three to make it 38-36. The teams traded a couple of baskets, and ISU recaptured the lead at the 9:48 mark on a basket by Demetrius Monroe, but ISU hit just two free throws over the next 6:26. Over that same span, USC retook the lead with a basket by Alex Stephenson, and by the time ISU found the nets again with another Monroe basket at the 3:22 mark it was 50-45.
The Bengals hurt themselves with an inability to hit free throws, as they entered the game hitting 74% but went just 10-for-21, including a rough 2-for-5 night by Gilchrest and 5-for-8 by Morgan. Luckily for ISU, USC wasn't much better, going 14-for-25.
"Basketball is a game of momentum swings and we had it in the last 10 minutes before half and the first 10 out of locker room. They got a run to get back ahead, and really it was a physical basketball game inside 15 feet and it was good for us," said head coach Joe O'Brien. "I thought we did a much better job of defending, they got 30 points in the paint, which isn't where we want to be, but it's getting better.
What also hurt the Bengals was their constant driving to the basket, and drawing blocked shots instead of fouls, a school record 13 in all, one better than what USC had against Sacramento State on Tuesday. Those 13 blocks accounted for ISU's .351 shooting mark, but also to Idaho State grabbing 17 offensive rebounds for the third consecutive game. ISU only turned those 17 boards into six second chance points.
For ISU, Gilchrest had 14 points to lead the way, followed by 13 from Amorrow Morgan. For USC, Dwight Lewis had 19, including three threes, all that USC hit, and Stephenson, a North Carolina transfer, had a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Marcus Johnson chipped in 10.
Idaho State now heads into their conference opener after a few days off and finals, as they travel to Sacramento State on Saturday night at 8:05 pm Mountain Time on December 19.
NOTES: ISU had shot 70% or better the first seven games from the line, but they have been under 55% in the last two ... ISU has had 17 offensive rebounds five times this year in nine games ... USC outrebounded ISU 40-35 ... ISU was 3-for-7 from three, and Austin Kilpatrick was a perfect 3-for-3 from the field ... Gilchrest's six steals tied for the seventh-most in school history and it was the most against a Division I opponent since Jim Rhode had seven against Montana State on January 26, 1989.
