Hansen Scores 15: Bengals Fall 51-48 at Portland

Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team led early in the first half by as many as seven points at the University of Portland but was held to 33.3 percent shooting in the second half and lost 51-48 on Thursday evening. Idaho State is 0-2 while Portland improved to 1-1.

Idaho State shot 40.4 percent from the field while Portland State shot 45.5 percent. The Bengals were out rebounded 31-22 while having 14 assists and forcing 14 turnovers. ISU had nine steals.

“We did some good things,” Idaho State coach Bill Evans said. “We are working really hard and trying hard and we will win games because of that. Places like Portland are to play. You have to give Portland credit. They did a good job of getting the ball where it needed to go.”

Chris Hansen led Idaho State with 15 points in 33 minutes. He also had three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Neveij Walters had 10 points in 24 minutes off the bench while Melvin Morgan had nine points, eight rebounds and four assists.

“A positive tonight is that we got 10 points from our post, which is something we haven't been getting,” Evans said.

In the first half, Idaho State built a 24-18 lead on a Hansen 3-pointer with 5:20 to play in the first half and it was extended to seven at 27-20 following a Nnamdi Ezenwa 3-pointer with 3:32 to play until halftime.

Over the final three minutes the Bengals were held to only two points as Portland led 30-29 at halftime.

Portland State scored the first five points of the second half to lead 35-29. Late in the game Idaho State got within one at 43-42 following a Walters jumper with 6:37 to play and at 45-44 following Morgan jumper with six minutes remaining.

Idaho State would get no closer but it did have a chance to tie the game in the final seconds. Morgan hit a 3-pointer with nine seconds remaining to bring the Bengals within three at 51-48 and then the Pilots missed the front end of a one-and-one to give ISU a chance but the game-tying 3-point attempt fell short.

Idaho State returns to the court on Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. at the University of Utah. The Bengals play three games in Salt Lake City over Thanksgiving Weekend as they also play Wright State and Central Michigan on Friday and Saturday.