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POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team lost 59-54 to Montana on Thursday evening at Reed Gym in front of a crowd of 1,838. Montana shot 50 percent in the second-half (13-26), made 8-15 from the three-point line and 12-26 for the game to spark the second-half run over the final 10 minutes.
"You have to give Montana credit," Idaho State coach
Bill Evans said. "They made baskets."
Idaho State is now 3-4 in Big Sky Conference play and 6-10 overall while Montana improved to 8-8 and 3-4 in league.
Tomas Sanchez led Idaho State with 13 points and
Chris Hansen scored 12.
Andre Hatchett and
Evann Hall each had 11 points. Hall scored his 11 points in the first half.
"I just want to come off the bench and be a spark for the team," Hall said. "It worked in the first half but Montana is a good team and they came back on us."
ISU shot 40 percent for the game but only 33 percent in the second-half while Montana shot 41.2 percent from the field.
"We got the ball where it needed to go," Evans said. "We just didn't make baskets. They made shots and we didn't. That is the bottom line."
The Bengals turned the ball over 15 times and managed only eight assists. Idaho State out rebounded Montana 32-30 thanks nine boards from
Jeffrey Solarin and a season-high eight rebounds from
Ayibakuro Preh.
The Bengals led 30-21 at halftime and 44-34 with 9:38 to play in the game after a 3-pointer by Hansen. Montana then outscored ISU 25-10 in the final 10 minutes to earn the win. All seven of Montana's field goals during that stretch were 3-pointers.
With 1:36 remaining, Hatchett gave Idaho State a 54-52 lead. Montana's Mario Dunn hit a 3-pointer with 1:04 left to put the Griz back on top 55-54 and then after a missed 3-pointer by the Bengals, Keron DeSheilds hit two free throws to up the UM lead to 57-54.
The Bengals turned the ball over on the ensuing possession and the game was sealed by two Jordan Gregory free throws.
The Bengals are back in action Saturday, January 25, at 7 p.m. vs. Montana State in Reed Gym.
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