Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team erased a 13-point deficit in the final eight minutes but it wasn't enough as NAU's Kris Yanku made one of two free throws with six seconds remaining to beat the Bengals 66-65 on Thursday night in Reed Gym. Idaho State is 10-16 and 7-10 in Big Sky Conference play while Northern Arizona improved to 12-16 and 9-8 in league.
"We got beat tonight, flat out," Idaho State coach
Bill Evans said. "That is not the first time that has happened. They came in and beat us. They had 16 offensive rebounds and 13 more shots. That was the big difference, they just kept rebounding the ball offensively."
The Bengals had four players in double figures led by 17 points from
Tomas Sanchez.
Andre Hatchett had 13 points,
Chris Hansen 12 and
Jeffrey Solarin had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Idaho State shot 44.4 percent for the game and NAU shot 44.8 percent. The Bengals were out rebounded 37-27. NAU had 16 offensive rebounds and 16 assists. ISU had 10 assists to only nine turnovers. The Bengals were 21-25 from the free throw line while NAU was six-of-14.
"They just beat us up on the glass," Evans said.
Idaho State trailed 55-42 with 7:58 left in the game. A layup by
Ayibakuro Preh and a 3-pointer by Hansen cut the Lumberjack lead to 55-47 with 6:53 remaining. A minute later the deficit was cut to 55-52 after a layup by Hatchett and a 3-pointer by Sanchez.
NAU retook a six-point lead at 65-59 with 1:35 to play. The Bengals would tie the game at 65 with 23 seconds remaining in the contest after two free throws by Hatchett, a three-point play by Solarin and another free throw by Hatchett.
In the final 20 seconds ISU was unable to get off a good shot and after a Bengal turnover with six seconds left, Yanku made one of two free throws to give Northern Arizona the win.
Idaho State plays its final home game of the 2013-14 season on Saturday, at 7 p.m., vs. Sacramento State. It will be the final home game for the three Bengal seniors, Hatchett, Sanchez and Preh.
We Are Your Bengals
