Box Score
MISSOULA, Mont.- The Idaho State men's basketball team lost 71-52 to Montana on Wednesday night at Dahlberg Arena in front of a crowd of a 4,048. Idaho State dropped to 8-17 and 4-9 in Big Sky play while Montana improved to 19-7 and 11-3 in conference.
Broderick Gilchrest and Kenny McGowen each had 13 points to lead the Bengals while Deividas Busma had 10 points. Abner Moreira led the Bengals in rebounding with seven.
Idaho State shot 32.8 percent from the field while Montana shot 56.1 percent. The Bengals out rebounded Montana 34-33 and forced 16 Grizzly turnovers.
“Give Montana credit,” Idaho State coach Joe O'Brien said. “They didn't let us run like NAU and Portland State did. We took 58 shots tonight. We took 71 shots last Saturday. They took away what has been a pretty important part of our offense.”
The Bengals hung with Montana for most of the first half as they trailed 29-19 at the break. ISU jumped out to a 9-4 lead in the first four minutes of the game after a layup by Gilchrest. Montana then went on a 13-2 run to take a 17-11 lead with 7:09 left until halftime.
Idaho State scored the next six points and tied the game at 17 after an offensive put back by Chase Grabau but the Bengals were held without a field goal for the final five minutes of the half to trail by 10 at the break.
Montana held Idaho State to four second-half points in the first seven minutes to build a 44-23 lead. The Grizzlies led by as many as 24 points in the second half.
Idaho State returns to the court on Saturday for a nonconference match up against Cal State Fullerton at 4 p.m. in Reed Gym in the Bracketbuster game.
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