Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team opened Big Sky Conference play on Thursday evening with a 63-49 loss at the Stott Center on the Campus of Portland State. Idaho State dropped to 1-8 overall and 0-1 in Big Sky play while the Vikings improved to 3-5 and 1-0.
Melvin Morgan led the Bengals in scoring with 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field in 36 minutes of play.
Andre Hatchett and
Neveij Walters each had eight points. Walters also had seven rebounds, three blocks and three steals in 27 minutes off the bench.
“I liked how Neveij played tonight,” Idaho State coach
Bill Evans said. “He was better tonight. I think he did a good job on Renado Parker, who I think is a real good player.”
Idaho State shot 46.8 percent from the field while Portland State was 25-for-47 (53.2 percent). PSU was 7-for-13 from the 3-point line and out rebounded Idaho State 29-22.
“I think everybody tried hard but we didn't play very good at both ends of the floor,” Evans said. “Somehow we have to get more baskets. We had good shots tonight but they just didn't fall.”
The game was back and forth for the first 25 minutes of the game as there were eight ties and 13 lead changes.
At halftime both teams were tied at 28 as ISU shot 50 percent from the field. Five minutes into the second half the Bengals built a four point lead, their biggest lead of the game, at 40-36 thanks to a jumper by Hatchett. ISU's last lead was at 42-41 with 12:46 left in the contest following a jumper by
Chris Hansen.
Portland State then outscored the Bengals 22-7 over the final 12 minutes to seal the victory.
Idaho State returns to the court on Saturday for a 3 p.m. tipoff at Eastern Washington. The game can be heard live on 102.5 KMGI or 930 KSEI.
