Feb. 13, 2010
Final Stats
Complete Stat Packet: Idaho State 73, Northern Arizona 71 (OT) 
Pocatello, ID --- Idaho State led most of the way, but survived a shot with 0.8 left by DeAngelo Jones to send the game to overtime, and ISU got just enough in overtime to keep their season alive with a 73-71 overtime win over Northern Arizona, as ISU moved within one game of the Lumberjacks, and one and a half with Portland State, with ISU holding the tiebreaker over Northern Arizona should Montana finish ahead of Montana State.
The Bengals led for almost all of the final 34 minutes of the game, but ended needing an extra five minutes because of a wild comeback by Northern Arizona. The Bengals led by as much as 15 points in the first half, and they led by 11 at the break, but NAU quickly whittled that lead all the way down to one at 39-38 with 12:32 to go, but ISU immediately went on a 9-0 run as Chron Tatum hit two free throws, and Austin Kilpatrick followed with his only basket of the game, a three to make it 44-38. Rolando Little and Broderick Gilchrest finished off the run, and the lead bounced around between 10 and four for most of the next seven minutes.
NAU cut it to 53-51 on a Gabe Rogers three-pointer with 3:45 left, but ISU got a reverse layup from Mike Lacey and two Gilchrest baskets to seemingly take a safe 59-51 lead with 1:33 left, but NAU outscored ISU 13-5 over that final timeframe to tie it.
ISU was just 5-for-9 from the line over that stretch, but still led 64-61 after two Kilpatrick free throws with 9.4 left when he fouled Julian Olubuyi with 5.4 left. Ollubuyi hit the front end of the one-and-one, and missed the second, and the ball went out of bounds off the Bengals, and DeAngelo Jones took the inbounds pass from Nick Larson and hit a tough shot in the lane with 0.8 left, sending the game to overtime.
In OT, ISU never trailed, but again survived a harrowing five minutes from the line, and ISU was just 5-for-10, and NAU wasn't much better at 5-for-9. The Bengals never trailed and Morgan, who was in a walking boot after the game, hit the opening shot of OT to give ISU the lead, and that eventually got up to five before NAU had one last comeback attempt in them.
NAU cut it quickly to three before Mike Lacey followed a Little miss with a thunderous follow-up dunk to make it 71-66 with 2:52 to go. Cameron Jones hit three free throws to make it 71-69 with 1:02 to go, and ISU missed a shot in the pait to give NAU the ball with a chance to win or tie. The Bengals came through defensively though, forcing a missed shot, and Lacey got the rebound and Morgan was fouled with 10.4 left. He hit one of two free throws, and then DeAngelo Jones was fouled on a three-point shot with 3.3 left. He missed the first and hit the second, and tried to miss the third but his line drive shot banked in by mistake, making it 72-71.
Gilchrest was fouled on the inbounds, and missed the first free throw with 1.8 left, but hit the second to make it 73-71. NAU inbounded to near midcourt but DeAngelo Jones' wild three-point shot from half court wasn't close, and ISU had themselves the win.
The Bengals got 21 points from Gilchrest, 15 from Morgan, and 10 out of Demetrius Monroe, who scored in double-figures for his third straight game, and he had nine rebounds as well. Northern Arizona was led by Cameron Jones' 22 points, and they also had 18 from Shane Johannsen and 10 from Gabe Rogers. ISU outrebounded the Lumberjacks by two.
ISU shot .500 for the game, and NAU was at .434, and both teams really struggled from the line, with ISU going 22-for-40 (.550) and Northern Arizona 19-for-29 (.655).
Idaho State takes on Cal State Bakersfield on Monday night for senior night before heading to Weber State to take on the league leaders on Saturday. Northern Arizona has Portland State and Eastern Washington next week, and Portland State also plays at Northern Colorado.
NOTES: Idaho State is 2-1 in overtime this season, and that equals the total overtime wins in Joe O'Brien's first three seasons at ISU ... ISU had 14 assists and 14 turnovers ... Rolando Little had four blocks ... ISU's 33 bench points were easily the most of the season.
