POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball made a late rally to cut the Denver to lead to six points with less two minutes left in the game. But ISU got no closer, falling 79-69 on Wednesday afternoon at Magness Arena.
"I don't think we played hard in the first half and I don't know why," Idaho State coach
Bill Evans said. "We did compete better in the second half."
Denver scorched the nets, hitting 23 shots on 38 attempts for a clip of 60.5 percent. Denver went to the free throw line 41 times, making 25.
"Defense is the key to our team," Evans said. "Until we start defending I think we will struggle."
Idaho State shot 43.4 percent for the game and hit eight 3-pointers on 22 attempts. ISU was 15-23 from the free throw line.
Ali Faruq-Bey led the Bengals in scoring with 18 points.
Ethan Telfair had 12 points and eight assists and
Ben Wilson had 10 points.
Denver out rebounded Idaho State 30-29.
Idaho State trailed 41-30 in the first half and 61-46 early in the second period. The Bengals then cut the Denver lead to single digits several times in the final 20 minutes. ISU trailed 69-60 with 2:42 left in the game and 71-63 following a 3-pointer by Faruq-Bey 30 seconds later.
Idaho State cut the Pioneer lead to 75-69 following a four-point play by Faruq-Bey, but would get no closer the rest of the way.
The Bengals trailed 41-30 at halftime. The Pioneers scorched the nets by hitting eight 3-pointers on 13 attempts. Denver shot 66.2 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes while ISU shot 39 percent, making nine field goals on 23 attempts. ISU hit 3-pointers on 11 attempts.
The Bengals trailed 41-27 late in the first half. ISU went on a mini-run to cut the Denver lead to 11 at 41-30 at the break thanks to a 3-pointer by Faruq-Bey with seconds left in the period.
In the second half, Idaho State cut the Denver lead to 47-39 on a steal and layup by
Brandon Boyd with 13 minutes left in the game. Denver quickly extended its lead to 15 at 61-46 five minutes later.
The Bengals cut it to nine points twice and six points with two minutes left in the game.
Idaho State returns to the court on Friday, November 27 for a 7 p.m. tipoff at Utah. The game will be televised on the Pac 12 network.
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