Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho- The streak is finally over. On Thursday evening the Idaho State men's basketball team snapped its 24-game road losing streak by winning at Portland State, 84-79. The victory is the first time ISU has won in Portland since Jan. 21, 2006, which was a 68-66 victory. Idaho State improved to 7-16 and 3-8 in Big Sky play while Portland State dropped to 11-13 and 4-8 in conference.
“I am really proud of our effort,” Idaho State coach Joe O' Brien said.
Idaho State had four players in double figures led by 20 points and six rebounds from
Deividas Busma.
Chase Grabau had as career-high 16 points while
Kenny McGowen had 15 and
Broderick Gilchrest 11.
Abner Moreira had nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Idaho State shot 47.8 percent from the field for the game while Portland State shot 41.7 percent on the night. The Bengals out rebounded Portland State, 41-36.
“It was nice to fill up the stat sheet, to score 84 points and shoot 48 percent from the field,” O'Brien said. “We have had to grow into being an offensive basketball team.”
The Bengals scorched the nets in the first half shooting 52.9 percent from the field. ISU jumped out to a 20-10 lead after a 3-pointer by Grabau with 13:37 to play in the half. The lead was extended to 35-18 after a jumper by
Phyllip Taylor with 7:22 left until halftime.
Idaho State led 39-22 before Portland State made a run to cut the Bengal lead to 41-32 at halftime.
“In the first half we did exactly what we had to do to get the lead,” O'Brien said. “It is nice to have the insurance we had in the first 10-to-12 minutes.”
Portland State shot 35 percent in the first half and Grabau scored 14 of his 16 points in the first 20 minutes.
Portland State's only lead of the game was the opening basket in the first 30 seconds. The Vikings made a run in the second half and got within four points at 49-45 in the first four minutes but Busma and Moreira responded with baskets to extend the lead to six at 53-47.
Portland State got within one point two different times in the final period but the Bengal defense never allowed Portland State to take the lead.
“This group doesn't quit,” O'Brien said. “They practiced hard leading into tonight and they did what they needed to do to earn the victory.”
Idaho State returns home to host Northern Arizona on Saturday at 7 p.m. at ICCU Court in Holt Arena.
