Box Score Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team stood toe-to-toe with Big 12 foe Oklahoma in the 2011-12 season opener but in the end the Bengals dropped a 78-74 contest at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Oklahoma.
“I am pleased with our effort,” Idaho State coach Joe O'Brien said. “I would have loved to win the game, but when you have 21 turnovers on the road you don't win. You can stay close and some people can call it a moral victory, but I am too old for moral victories. I am greedy. I want to win. We have to go North Dakota and play Monday night and see if we can get one there.”
In a game that saw eight ties and 14 lead changes, Idaho State shot 46.7 percent from the field and were led in scoring by
Kenny McGowen's 14 points.
Chase Grabau flirted with a triple-double as he had 10 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, three steals and only one turnover in 38 minutes of play.
Dejan Kostur finished with 12 points while
Melvin Morgan had 11 points. The Bengals were 11-for-17 from the free throw line and 7-for- 24 from 3-point range.
Oklahoma also finished with four players in double figures led by Calvin Newell's 19 points. The Sooners shot 36.5 percent from the field and was 24-for-33 from the free throw line while out rebounding ISU 41-37.
The Bengals led by as many as 10 points in the first half at 27-17 following a free throw by
Jakub Kusmieruk with 5:28 left in the first half. Idaho State led 34-31 at halftime.
ISU led early in the second half at 52-48 following a Morgan 3-pointer with 11:53 remaining in the game at 54-51 after a layup by Kostur a minute later.
Oklahoma then went on a 9-0 to take the lead for good at 60-54 with 7:23 left in the contest. The Sooners biggest lead of the game was 10 points at 73-63.
Idaho State returns to the court on Monday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. for a contest at future Big Sky Conference member North Dakota.
