Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho- It was the seniors who shined for the Idaho State men's basketball team in Saturday's 78-57 win over UMKC at Holt Arena. The senior class of Mike Lacey, Phyllip Taylor, Broderick Gilchrest and Deividas Busma combined to score 62 of the team's 78 points in the victory to up the Bengals record to 3-5. UMKC dropped to 5-4.
“I am excited for Mike, David and Phyl,” Idaho State coach Joe “Brien said. “To come back home in a must-win situation and to play that hard, that well and to win that convincingly was nice for that to happen for us. Those seniors have some pride. Hopefully they continue to show this type of enthusiasm and effort.”
Busma tied his career of 20 points on eight of 11 shooting from the field and he had a game-high eight rebounds. Mike Lacey had a career-high 17 points and five steals while Gilchrest had 14 points and Taylor had a career-best 11 points and three steals.
ISU shot 54.5 percent from the field, the fourth time this season they have shot 54 percent or better. UMKC out rebounded the Bengals 31-28. Idaho State's defense force UMKC into 19 turnovers while the Bengals had only 11.
“It was better,” O'Brien said on his team's effort. “Turnovers were down. Defensive field goal percentage was better. Our shot selection was much better. We took only seven three's. We told them we don't have to make a bunch of three's to beat people. When we play good defense, take the right shots and keep our turnovers low we will be just fine.”
Idaho State trailed 13-9 seven minutes into the game but then went on a 25-4 run over the rest of the first half to lead 34-17 at the break. The run was capped off by a Gilchrest 3-pointer at the buzzer.
“We played hard and that was what I was asking for,” O'Brien said. “When we play hard good things happen. The one area that stands out that we have to continue to get better at is rebounding the ball.”
The lead ballooned in the second half to as much as 27 points at 56-29 with 9:36 remaining after two Taylor free throws. UMKC got no closer than 18 points the rest of the way.
“Did I expect to win by 21,” O'Brien said. “No, but I thought we put together two pretty good halves. The first half was really good.”
Idaho State returns to the floor next Saturday when it plays at Creighton at 6 p.m. Mountain Time. ISU returns to Holt Arena on Dec. 31 at 2 p.m. when it opens Big Sky play against Sacramento State.
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