Box Score
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.- In a game that had 19 lead changes, nine ties and came down to the final possession, the Idaho State men's basketball team dropped a hard-fought 82-80 overtime game at Northern Arizona on Thursday evening at the Rolle Activity Center. Northern Arizona is a team the Big Sky coaches picked to finish second in the conference.
Northern Arizona is now 9-6 and 1-2 in Big Sky play while the Bengals dropped to 5-10 and 1-2 league.
Idaho State had a chance to tie or win the game in overtime but Broderick Gilchrest missed two 3-pointers in the final 10 seconds of the extra period.
“We didn't get the last shot to go down at the end of regulation or overtime,” Idaho State coach Joe O'Brien said. “It was one of those games where whoever had the ball last and put it in the net was going to win.”
The Bengals finished with four players in double figures led by Gilchrest's 22 points on 10-of-23 shooting from the field. He played 43 of the 45 minutes.
Phyllip Taylor had a career-high 17 points on five-of-seven shooting before fouling out in 28 minutes of play.
“He hit big shot after big shot in the second half,” O'Brien said. “He was playing with a lot of confidence and he was playing to win. We found a lineup that we like.”
Deividas Busma had 12 points, nine rebounds and three blocks while Chase Grabau chipped in 11.
For the game, Idaho State shot 52.6 percent from the field while NAU shot 43.5 percent. The Lumberjacks out rebounded Idaho State, 41-35. Idaho State turned the ball over only 12 times while NAU had 11 turnovers.
“I am proud of the balance we had,” O'Brien said. “Our shot selection was great. We are getting better but it is time to win a road game and put together some back-to-back wins. There is no question we got considerably better since the season started. Now we have to take the next step and that is winning these close games and doing what it takes to make sure they are not games that go to the wire on the last possession.”
In regulation, Idaho State led 67-64 with 34 seconds to play after a layup by Grabau. But with 22 seconds remaining, Northern Arizona's Cameron Jones, who finished with a career-high 37 points, sunk a 3-pointer to tie the game at 67.
Idaho State got the ball back but Gilchrest missed a 3-pointer has time expired. In the extra period, Northern Arizona jumped out to a 78-74 lead with 2:17 to play. Gilchrest had back-to-back layups to tie the game at 78 with 1:30 to play in the extra stanza.
ISU then took the lead at 80-78 on two Taylor free throws with 46 seconds left. Jones countered by converting a 3-point play to give NAU a 81-80 lead 10 seconds later. After a missed jumper by the Bengals Jones was fouled with 10 seconds left where he hit the first free throw but missed the second.
Mike Lacey got the rebound and Gilchrest attempted his first 3-pointer with five second left. After getting his own rebound his second attempt fell short with a second left, giving NAU the victory.
Idaho State has a week off before returning to the court next Thursday at Northern Colorado. Tip off is at 7:35 p.m. and the game can be heard live on 930 KSEI.
www.isubengals.com
