March 7, 2009
Final Stats
Pocatello, ID --- In a game that went toe-to-toe for 38 minutes, it was all about fingertips in the end. Lucas Steijn secured a huge offensive rebound, allowing Idaho State to go up by three, and moments later another offensive board by Matt Stucki led to two more points as Idaho State scored their final 16 points from the line in pulling away from Northern Colorado 67-60 in a tightly contested quarterfinal. The Bengals now have a date with #2 Portland State after #6 Montana State upset #2 Montana 56-54 in Missoula.
The Bengals only led briefly through the first 30 minutes of the game, as Northern Colorado drained six three-pointers in the first half, the final one by Will Figures with seconds to go, giving the Bears their largest lead of the game, 36-30 at the break.
ISU whittled that lead down, and eventually tied it on a three by Austin Kilpatrick, but Yohosh Bonner hit one right back to give UNC the lead again, although that was the final three of the night for the Bears. Every time ISU took a lead, UNC had an answer. Donnie Carson gave the Bengals a 42-41 lead, their first since 4-2, but John Pena hit two free throws on the next possession to put the Bears back in front. With 9:20 left, Felix Caspari hit a layup, only to have Figures answer with one of his own. Following that Stucki, who scored a game-high 20 points, retook the lead back, but Jabril Banks dunked one home and it was 50-49 UNC.
Felix Caspari responded with 6:41 to go with a monster dunk of his own, and on the play Banks severely dislocated his finger, much to the dismay of the 2,938 in the attendance, who let out an audible gasp once the injury was seen by all. Banks however had his trainer snap the finger back in place and returned with 4:10 left as Caspari made two free throws to make it 53-50. UNC eventually tied it at 53, and again at 55 before Donnie Carson went to the line with 2:04 left.
Carson made his first, but missed the second, leaving the game at 56-55. The miss bounded straight up, and off the back of the rim, and Lucas Steijn got the offensive board, dishing to Stucki who was eventually fouled and made both free throws with 1:42 left, giving ISU a 58-55 lead. Figures missed a three, and ISU worked the clock down and got Stucki a look inside. His short jumper missed, but he was fouled trying to tip the rebound in, and his two free throws with 56.9 left made it 60-55.
Austin Kilpatrick then blocked a shot and was fouled, making both charity tosses to make it 62-55. John Pena got a three-point play, but ISU hit 5-of-6 in the last 37.5 seconds. Neal Kingman's dunk to end the game sealed the score at 67-60.
The fact that ISU went 16-for-18 over the last 4:10 of the game was not lost on Joe O'Brien, who has led ISU into the semifinals for the second straight year. "It was great being at home, having almost 3,000 people cheer you on down the stretch. Our fans were huge for us tonight," said O'Brien.
ISU's comeback win was their fourth this year when trailing at the half, and now sets up a semifinal matchup with Portland State at 5:00 pm on Tuesday in Ogden at the Dee Events Center. Portland State defeated Idaho State in the first meeting 85-58, but ISU won the rematch in Pocatello 78-69. Fans can purchase tickets through the ISU ticket office by calling 208-282-FANS.
NOTES: Idaho State improved to 6-0 all-time in Pocatello in conference tournament games ... ISU also has never failed to advance to the semifinals as the #4 seed ... ISU scored 18 points off 17 UNC turnovers ... ISU only shot .385 from the field, but .793 from the line, and they outrebounded UNC 36-35 ... Matt Stucki had 20 points to lead all scorer, and Donnie Carson added 12, and Austin Kilpatrick 10 ... John Pena and Will Figures each had 14 for the Bears, who ended their season 14-18.
