Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho- The first time the Idaho State men's basketball team played Loyola Marymount in Pocatello, the Bengals dropped a hard-fought, 79-76 overtime contest in a game that saw 11 ties and 25 lead changes. Saturday's rematch in Los Angeles was nearly identical as LMU once again defeated Idaho State in overtime, 80-72. This time there was only four ties and seven lead changes.
The Bengals led by 10 points at 60-50 with 9:25 left in regulation but over the final nine minutes LMU went on an 18-8 run to send the game into overtime. The Bengals were held to only one basket in the last eight minutes of regulation.
The Bengals led 68-66 late in the game but the Lions C.J. Blackwell hit two free throws with one second left in regulation to force overtime after ISU turned the ball over with eight seconds remaining. LMU led by as many as eight points in overtime.
“There are going to be momentum swings in every basketball games,” Idaho State coach Joe O'Brien said. “All we had to do was take care of the ball on the last possession.”
Kenny McGowen led ISU in scoring with 21 points in 37 minutes of play while
Chase Grabau had 11 points, five steals, four assists and three rebounds.
Melvin Morgan and
Sherrod Baldwin also had 11 points. Baldwin's 11 points was a career-high.
“Sherrod took advantage of the playing time and shot the ball pretty well,” O'Brien said. “I like what he is doing and Kenny is playing well again.”
Idaho State shot 44.4 percent from the field while the Lions shot 41.4 percent. The Bengals were 5-for-17 from the 3-point line while LMU was 9-for-27. The Bengals were out rebounded 42-33 and both teams had 18 turnovers.
Idaho State returns to the court on Friday, Dec. 16 for a 7 p.m. contest at Utah. The game can be heard live on 930 AM.
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