Feb. 5, 2010
Final Stats
Complete Stat Packet: Montana State 63, Idaho State 60 
Pocatello, ID --- Broderick Gilchrest and Donnie Carson nearly helped ISU pull out a huge road win, but Carson's baseline three hit both rims and bounded out at the buzzer, and the Montana State Bobcats escaped 63-60 in Worthington Arena, a game in which ISU lost leading scorer Amorrow Morgan to a sprained ankle just nine minutes into the game.
Carson's three attempt came as ISU trailed by four entering the final minute after a Bobby Howard three with 1:06 left gave the Bobcats a 60-56 lead. That three followed a Danny Piepoli three, his fifth of the game, that broke a 53-53 tie with 2:57 left.
Broderick Gilchrest drove in and cut it to 60-58 with 42.7 left, but missed the bonus free throw. Marquis Navaree then could only hit one free throw the other way to make it 61-58, and ISU got another Gilchrest basket, his 24th point of the game, to make it 61-60. After Branden Johnson hit two free throws, ISU missed a three by Gilchrest, but got the ball out of bounds with 5.6 left. The Bengals inbounded to Carson, who got a shot off at the buzzer but it was just off.
It looked like ISU might run away with it as they opened a 38-31 lead with just over 13 minutes to go, but a bizarre sequence in 43 seconds saw MSU tie the game in a hurry. It started when ISU was assessed a technical foul on their bench for standing up during play after Montana State threw a pass into their own backcourt, and Branden Johnson picked it up. ISU lobbied for a backcourt violation, but it was not to be. Instead of ISU ball, Montana State hit the free throw, and then drained a three on the ensuing possession. After a missed shot, Johnson was fouled and awarded two free throws, but after a conference the officials ruled goaltending and counted the basket. Johnson's free throw tied the game at 38, and it was a battle from there on out.
The Bobcats won it from the three-point line, where they hit 10 of them on 24 shots, including a 5-for-8 effort from Piepoli, who always seemed to have an answer for any ISU run.
The Bengals nearly pulled it out despite losing Amorrow Morgan to a sprained ankle just nine minutes into the game. He went to save a ball on the sideline, and his momentum carried him off the court, and he slipped off the raised court and turned his ankle. In his stead though Gilchrest had 24 points on 11-for-17 shooting, and Carson added a season-best 15 points. Austin Kilpatrick added 13 and ISU shot well, going .480 from the field and .727 from the line, but it wasn't enough.
For Montana State, the Bobcats got 16 from Piepoli, 11 from Bobby Howard, and 10 from Branden Johnson. ISU really took it to MSU on the boards, winning that battle 36-22.
The Bengals, now 3-7 in the conference at 6-16 overall, have to travel to take on the Griz at 7:05 on Saturday night, after Montana took down Weber State 75-61 in Missoula on Friday.
NOTES: Morgan's two points were his lowest of the season ... Chron Tatum had a career-high 10 rebounds ... ISU had just five assists on 24 baskets.
