Feb. 12, 2010
Final Stats
Complete Stat Book: Northern Colorado 68, Idaho State 59 
Pocatello, ID --- Northern Colorado didn't miss much from the line, and when they missed from the field, they got the rebound and put it back in as the Bears, ranked #10 in the latest Mid Major Top 25 Poll, cruised past Idaho State 68-59, a game that got that close after a furious rally with four minutes left.
Northern Colorado shot just .408 from the field, but of their 31 missed shots, they got 16 offensive boards, and that led to 19 second chance points. That combined with 24 points off turnovers told most of the story.
It was 12-10 early as both teams struggled early on, with Northern Colorado going 3-for-10 to start the game, and ISU right behind at 3-for-9, but a 13-5 run gave UNC a 25-15 lead at the 5:26 mark. ISU whittled that lead down to 27-22 with 3:42 to go on a layup by Demetrius Monroe, but the Bears closed the half on an 11-2 run to lead at the break 38-24.
The second half was mostly UNC, as they built a lead of 22 at 64-42 with 6:15 to go, and they still led 66-45 with under four remaining, when ISU caught fire, outscoring Northern Colorado 15-2 over the final 3:34 to make the final respectable.
Idaho State got 20 from Broderick Gilchrest and 15 from Demetrius Monroe, but Amorrow Morgan, playing on a tender ankle, scored just three points. For UNC, Neal Kingman scored 16 and Will Figures had 10, as the Bears spread the scoring around with all 10 players reaching the scoring column. The Bears outrebounded ISU 33-23 for the game, and shot .808 from the line, including hitting their first 12 of the game.
The Bengals remained alive for the final Big Sky playoff berth however, as Northern Arizona lost at Weber State by 10, so the Bengals remained two games behind the Lumberjacks with four to play, making their game with the 'Jacks on Saturday night all the more meaningful. The Bengals also stayed within striking distance of Portland State, who lost 81-76 and dropped to 5-6.
NOTES: Gilchrest committed six turnovers but also had five assists and two steals ... Austin Kilpatrick added two blocks ... Devon Beitzel, UNC's leading scorer, failed to hit double-figures in either game with the Bengals ... ISU shot.722 from the line in the second half ... Northern Colorado and Montana both clinched conference tournament berths.
