Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho- A last second 3-point attempt by
Kenny McGowen fell short at the buzzer and Eastern Washington rallied to defeat Idaho State 69-67 on Saturday evening at ICCU Court in Holt Arena. The loss drops the Bengals to 6-16 and 2-8 in Big Sky play while Eastern Washington improved to 8-15 and 5-6 in league.
“We were a much better basketball team tonight then we were a week ago against them,” Idaho State coach Joe O'Brien said. “We did almost everything that we talked about needing to do. I think Eastern Washington is getting better and better. They had so many injuries early. If they had their team intact the entire fall and first half of the season I think they would be even better than they are well right now.”
Phyllip Taylor led the Bengals in scoring with 16 points while
Mike Lacey had 13 points and a team-best seven rebounds.
“Phyl has had a good conference season,” O'Brien said. “I have so much respect for him. He came off the bench for us tonight and gave us a spark. He is an aggressive offensive basketball and a very good defensive basketball player.”
Kenny McGowen had 12 points. Idaho State shot 48 percent from the field and outrebounded the Eagles 32-30. ISU shot 84 percent from the free throw line (16-for-19) and had only 13 turnovers.
For the game there were 10 ties and 12 lead changes. Idaho State led 56-48 with 6:14 to play in the game. Eastern Washington made a run to come within one at 56-55 two minutes later. The Bengals extended their lead to 63-59 with 2:51 after a 3-pointer by
Chase Grabau.
With 44 seconds to play Taylor gave ISU a 67-63 lead on two free throws. EWU's Glen Dean then hit a 3-pointer with 36 seconds left and a turnover by the Bengals allowed Tremayne Johnson to score the go-ahead and game-winning basket with 19 seconds left.
Taylor did have two free throw attempts with 10 seconds left in regulation but he missed them both.
With five seconds left in regulation, Dean made one-of-two free throws allowing the Bengals a last second attempt, where McGowen's 3-pointer fell short.
“I don't blame anybody,” O'Brien said. “They had a kid hit a big shot when they needed to and they had a kid force us into a turnover when they needed to”.
The Bengals return to the court on Thursday for an 8 p.m. tipoff at Portland State. ISU then hosts Northern Arizona on Saturday at 7 p.m.
www.isubengals.com
