Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho—The Idaho State men's basketball team had four players score in double figures and led Montana by two points with four minutes to play in the game but the Grizzlies used a late run to defeat the Bengals 75-65 on Thursday evening in front of a crowd of 2,176 at Reed Gym.
Idaho State dropped to 5-13 and 1-5 in Big Sky play while Montana improved to 14-5 and 6-1 in conference. Thursday was the first home game for Idaho State since January 2.
Broderick Gilchrest led ISU with 19 points while Phyllip Taylor had 16 and Kenny McGowen 12. Deividas Busma had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Idaho State and Montana each had 32 rebounds.
As a team, the Bengals shot 36.8 percent from the field while Montana shot 52.8 percent. Montana had four players score in double figures led by Brian Qvale's 19 points. He also set the Big Sky Conference career record for blocks.
“Montana is good,” Idaho State coach Joe O'Brien said. “They beat two Pac 10 teams on the road and are one game out of first in our league. I think they are probably capable of winning the league. Qvale is a handful. Everything for Montana is around the basket. They put so much pressure on you around the rim. You have the guard the basket and we didn't do a good enough job.”
Late in the game Idaho State trailed 59-53 with 6:36 to play. The Bengals then went on an 8-0 run to take a 61-59 lead with 4:08 to play after a basket by Taylor, four points by Mike Lacey and two free throws by Gilchrest. But over the final four minutes Montana outscored Idaho State 16-4 to earn the road victory.
“Tonight we beat ourselves in the last five minutes with turnovers and poor shot selection,” O'Brien said.
Before Montana's late run there were 10 ties and 14 lead changes. Montana held a slim 30-28 lead at halftime. Neither team had a lead bigger than six points in the first half as ISU's biggest lead was 21-15 with 7:54 to play in the first half after a 3-pointer by Gilchrest. Montana then went on a 9-0 run to lead 24-21 with 5:16 to play until the break. That three-point lead was the Grizzlies biggest lead of the half.
The Bengals led 28-27 with 1:39 to play in the opening period but Montana scored the final three points to lead at intermission. Montana shot 52 percent in the first half while Idaho State shot 37.9 percent.
Idaho State is back in action at Holt Arena with a game against Montana State (11-7, 5-1) on Monday, January 24. Tip-off is at 7:05 P.M.
--www.isubengals.com--
