Men's Basketball | 12/10/2016 11:11:00 PM
PHOTO GALLERY
Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team beat Bristol University 80-61 on Saturday evening at Holt Arena.
Ethan Telfair scored 18,
Hayes Garrity 16 and
Brandon Boyd 15 to lead the scoring attack.
"I am glad we got the win," Idaho State coach
Bill Evans said. "We didn't play great but we also practiced today for an hour and half trying to get better. So this is our second go-around with getting after it. We are more talented but they did a good job of hanging in there. You have to give them credit for that."
ISU shot 41.9 percent for the game while Bristol shot 39.6 percent. Idaho State out rebounded Bristol 41-26 and forced 16 turnovers. ISU was 23-30 from the foul line but hit only five 3-pointers on 27 attempts. Telfair was 10-14 from the foul line.
Keshawn Liggins led the Bengals in rebounds with seven in 19 minutes off the bench. Liggins was scheduled to redshirt this year but Evans felt that Liggins energy was needed to help spark the team going forward.
"I went home this afternoon and said this team is missing something," Evans said. "I thought I might try to bring this kid out (of redshirt). He rebounds, defends and plays with a motor. He is a warrior and we need a little bit of that mentality."
Bristol hung with the Bengals for a majority of the game. The Bears led 16-9 seven minutes into the game. ISU took a 21-19 lead following an
Erik Nakken 3-pointer with 7:22 left in the half. Bristol later clung to a 26-25 lead before two Telfair three throws gave Idaho State the lead for good at 27-26 with 3:19 left in the first half.
The Bengals outscored Bristol 10-2 over the final four minutes to lead 35-28 at the break. The Bengal lead stayed in the single digits until ISU went on a 26-10 to take a 72-52 lead with 5:14 to play after a 3-pointer by
Balint Mocsan. ISU's biggest lead was 21 points.
Idaho State returns to the court to host Montana Tech on Friday, Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. at ICCU Court in Reed Gym. The women's team also hosts Montana Tech following the men's game. Idaho State then plays at Boise State on Dec. 18 and BYU on Dec. 20.
