Men's Basketball Hosts Dickinson State on Monday

POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team begins the 2013-14 season with an exhibition game vs. Dickinson State on Monday, November 4 at 7 p.m. in Reed Gym. 

Dickinson State is 0-2 and plays at Montana State in an exhibition game on Sunday. The Blue Hawks lost 79-70 to Minot State and 67-65 to South Dakota School of Mines.

Idaho State returns seniors Tomas Sanchez, Andre Hatchett and Ayibakuro Preh and junior Chris Hansen. Nnamdi Ezenwa is expected to redshirt this season. Clint Thomas, a redshirt freshman also returns for ISU. Hansen earned honorable mention all-conference accolades last season when he averaged 11.4 points a game.

New to the Bengal squad and expected to contribute is freshmen Justin Smith, Scotty Tyler and Erik Nakken. Sophomore Evann Hall and junior Jeffrey Solarin and Ajak Magot is expected to see time on the court for the Bengals.

On the roster but will miss the 2013-14 season is Ben Wilson and Andre Slavik.

In 2012-13, the Bengals played its best defense since before the shot clock era, where they only allowed opponents to score 64.3 points a game. Idaho State averaged 57 points a game last season.

Bill Evans is in his second-year as the head coach of the Bengals.

Idaho State opens the regular season on Saturday, November 9 vs. Evergreen. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. in Reed Gym.  Idaho State will play eight home games in Holt Arena and six in Reed Gym. The home games in Reed Gym are Dickinson State, Evergreen, Montana, Montana State, NAU and Sacramento State.