Jan. 9, 2010
Final Stats
Complete Stat Packet: Northern Colorado 78, Idaho State 66 
Greeley, CO --- Chris Kaba led Northern Colorado with 17 points, including back-to-back banked three-pointers sandwiched around two free throws that gave the Bears the lead for good, and UNC hit 9-of-10 free throws in the final 47.4 seconds to push a four-point game with a minute left into a 78-66 win for #16 (Mid Major Poll) Bears, giving them a tie with Montana State and Weber State for first place in the Big Sky at 4-1, while ISU drops to 1-4.
ISU's effort against the Big Sky's top team was markedly better than their lackluster 68-56 loss on Thursday at Northern Arizona, when ISU was down 20 at the break. Idaho State only trailed by two at the half at 37-35, and eventually took a 49-41 lead at the 15:54 mark, but UNC battled back on the strength of some fortuitous breaks.
Down 53-50 nearing the 10-minute mark, Kaba's three from the left wing was well off the mark, but in clanged in off the glass to tie the game. After he hit two free throws and ISU answered with one of their own, Kaba attempted another three from left corner, but that two hit the glass and banked in, giving the Bears a four-point lead.
ISU eventually found themselves down eight with 6:44 to go, and six with 3:41 left, but they cut the lead all the way down to two with two to go after an Amorrow Morgan layup and a driving basket by Broderick Gilchrest to make it 67-65. UNC then missed a three-pointer, and in a fight for the rebound, Mike Procter scored when he and Austin Kilpatrick both hit the ball in the air, and it bounced off the glass and in on the rebound, making it 69-65.
After a missed three, the wheels fell off in the final minute, as Demetrius Monroe was called for an intentional foul with 47.4 to go and just 11 on the shot clock. That started a UNC parade to the line as they hit 9-of-10 to finalize the game, and ISU mustered just a free throw of their own.
Amorrow Morgan led the way with 25 points, and Gilchrest added 15, with Donnie Carson earning a start and scoring 12 points and a game-high seven rebounds in his best outing of the season. Carson also recorded two blocks, including blocking a first half dunk attempt by Procter. The Bengals however suffered from 17 turnovers, which UNC converted into 22 points, and Morgan and Gilchrest combined for 10 turnovers and no assists.
Kaba's 17 led the Bears, and Will Figures added 16, but he was just 3-for-11 from the field. Taylor Montgomery hit for 13 as ISU held the Bears to just .418 shooting with ISU going for .481 from the field. UNC shot 24-for-29 from the line and ISU was 9-of-13. The Bengals outrebounded the Bears 32-31.
ISU now gets a week to rest up before arch-rival Weber State comes calling to Holt Arena on Saturday night at 7:05 pm.
NOTES: ISU's five blocks were a season-high ... Donnie Carson's four assists tied a career-high ... ISU had just eight offensive rebounds, ending a streak of four-straight games with double-figure offensive boards ... Gilchrerst had all four of ISU's steals ... Sherrod Baldwin fouled out for the first time in his career.
