Dec. 28, 2009
Final Stats
Complete Stat Book: Idaho State 63, Montana Tech 55 
Pocatello, ID --- Amorrow Morgan scored 20 points on a dazzling array of moves and Demetrius Monroe grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds as Idaho State led from start to finish in taking down a pesky Montana Tech squad 63-55 in front of 1,737 fans at Holt Arena on Monday night to net themselves their third win of the season as they head into their home conference opener on Thursday night against Montana.
Idaho State got the opening basket just 17 seconds into the game and never trailed, although Montana Tech rebounded from an early five-point deficit to tie the game at 14 with 12:03 to go in the first half, but ISU's defense clamped down after that. Neither team would score for the next four minutes before Chron Tatum gave ISU the lead for good with a tip-in to make it 16-14. ISU would go on a 10-2 run over an eight minute span, holding the Orediggers without a basket over that time, and by the time Eric Schippers hit a baseline jumper with 3:58, ISU had pushed their lead out.
ISU expounded that lead to 13 at one point in the second half after a Demetrius Monroe three-point play, but the Orediggers, who led Weber State for nearly 39 minutes before losing 73-70 three weeks ago, eventually cut the lead to three twice, the last time 53-50 with 5:13 to go on two Dean Colbray free throws, but those two points were Tech's only ones over a four minute span. The Bengals got a big basket by Donnie Carson to push the lead to six at 56-50 with 2:36 to go, and ISU cruised from there.
ISU was able to lead for nearly the whole game because of the offense of Amorrow Morgan, who went 6-for-10 and scored 20 points, several of those coming on sizzling moves and spins to the basket, and mid-range jumpers. The bigger story was Demetrius Monroe, who grabbed 17 rebounds and played all 40 minutes, a necessity with Deividas Busma still out with a foot injury and Rolando Little sitting out after collapsing on Christmas Eve while jogging, and there is still no timetable on either player's return.
Joining Morgan in double-figures was Monroe, who had a double-double with 12 points and his 17 boards. Broderick Gilchrest added 14 points, including two key steals late in the game to thwart any sort of comeback notion for the Orediggers.
Montana Tech got 20 from Colbray, and 10 from Kellen Hasquet. ISU shot .420 from the field and .731 from the line, while Montana Tech shot .377 from the field and just .200 from the three-point line.
Idaho State now returns to conference play as they host the Montana Grizzlies on New Year's Eve at 3:05 pm at Holt Arena.
NOTES: The game did not count in the standings for Montana Tech, leaving them at 6-8 ... ISU turned the ball over a season-low nine times ... Donnie Carson's field goal with 2:36 to go was his first since December 5 against Utah.
