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POCATELLO, Idaho The Idaho State men's basketball team played the top team in the Big Sky Conference, Montana, tough on Saturday night in Reed Gym but in the end fell, 61-54 in front of a crowd of 1,922. Montana improved to 15-1 in league and 19-5 overall. Idaho State fell to 4-12 in conference and 5-20 overall.
“Montana is very physical and tough,” Idaho State coach
Bill Evans said. “They made some big shots late in the shot clock. We got hurt in transition for a little stretch there. It was more of our offense then there defense.”
Melvin Morgan led the Bengals in scoring with 14 points, followed by
Chris Hansen's 12 points, and
Andre Hatchett's eight.
The Bengals shot 86.7 percent from the free throw line (13-15) and 36.8 percent from the field (17-47). Montana shot 38.1 percent from the field (20-44). Idaho State had eight steals and forced a total of 12 Montana turnovers.
Will Cherry led Montana led Montana with 10 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks while playing 40 minutes.
“It is not about one thing,” Evans said. “It is about Will Cherry. He is 1-8 from the floor and he is the difference in the game.”
Idaho State led early in the game 12-3 with 12:25 left in the first half. The Griz countered with a 9-1 run to cut their deficit to 13-12 with 9:41 left in the period. Montana took its first lead of the game at `9-`7 with 6:22 remaining in the half after a 3-pointer by Mathias Ward. The Bengals trailed 29-22 at halftime.
Montana led by as many as 14 at three different times in the first eight minutes of the second half. Trailing 44-30 with 13:38 to play in the game, ISU went on an 8-1 run to cut the Montana lead to 45-38 with 9:50 remaining,
“Our plan was to come out hard like we did so when they do start making shots it will be a back and forth game,” said Morgan. “We were throwing punches back and it was a fight.”
The Bengals continued their run to come within three points at 55-52 following a Hansen 3-pointer with 2:39 left in the game. ISU would get no closer in the final minutes.
“It was a heck of a college game,” said Evans. “People got their money's worth but in the end Will Cherry was the one guy that hurt us. My guys played good, really hard.”
Idaho State returns to Reed Gym on Saturday, February 23 at 2:00pm to face Idaho.
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