Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team showed great resolve on Saturday evening at Worthington Arena in Bozeman, Montana. Trailing by 17, six minutes into the second half the Bengals rallied to force overtime at 57. In the extra period, Montana State scored the winning-points on two free throws with 17.9 seconds left and ISU's last second shot fell short, giving Montana State the 61-59 victory. This was the Bengals first overtime game of the season.
“My guys tried really hard and I am really proud of their effort,” Idaho State coach
Bill Evans said. “I don't like the final score but we showed great effort. We are struggling right now but my guys are still with one another and the coaching staff. They are Bengals through and through.”
Chris Hansen led Idaho State, tying his career high with 20 points (7-of-14 from the field and 6-of-10 from the 3-point line), and he had a career-high nine rebounds.
Melvin Morgan and
Tomas Sanchez each had 11 points to lead the ISU scoring. Sanchez added a team-high four assists.
The Bengals shot 40.8 percent from the field for the game but was 12-for-20 in the second half from the field (60 percent) to spark the second-half rally. Idaho State only turned the ball over 10 times to the Bobcats 15 and Montana State out rebounded ISU 30-29 in the game. In the second half and overtime, ISU out rebounded Montana State, 15-13.
“My guys tried really hard tonight and rebounding is a lot about the type of effort you show,” Evans said.
Trailing 45-28 with 14:01 to play in the game, Idaho State went on a 22-6 run to come within one point at 51-50 with four minutes left in regulation after a layup by
Ayibakuro Preh. The run started when Idaho State cut the MSU lead to 49-39 with 9:39 to play and then 51-46 following two free throws by Sanchez with 5:54 to play.
After Preh's basket with four minutes left, Montana State took a four-point lead at 54-50 less than a minute later. The Bengals countered with a 3-pointer by Hansen and two free throws by Sanchez to give ISU a 55-54 lead with 2:14 left. This was the Bengals first lead since early in the first half. After the Bobcats took a 57-55 lead with a minute to play,
Andre Hatchett scored the game-tying basket with 33 seconds left to second the game into overtime.
Idaho State took an early 59-57 lead in the first minute of the extra stanza after two free throws by Morgan but those would be the only points mustered by the Bengals. Montana State scored the final four points including the winning free throws by Antonio Biglow with 17 seconds left.
“We have to let this go and get ready for the next one,” Evans said.
Idaho State continues its road trip next week playing at Northern Colorado on January 31 and North Dakota on Feb. 2. Tipoff for the Northern Colorado game is at 7 p.m. while the North Dakota contest, in Grand Forks tips off at 1 p.m. The games can be heard on 102.5 KMGI and 930 KSEI.
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