Idaho State Plays at Eastern Washington on Thursday

Men's Basketball | 3/1/2016 10:53:00 AM

Notes | Audio | Video | Live Stats

POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team plays its final two games of the 2015-16 regular season on Thursday, March 3 at Eastern Washington and Saturday, March 5 at Idaho. The Bengals are in a four-way tie for third place and the top four teams receive byes in next weeks Big Sky Conference tournament. ISU, Idaho, Eastern Washington and North Dakota are all 10-6 in Big Sky Conference play and battling for a first-round bye in the tournament.

Thursday's game at Eastern Washington starts at 7 p.m. mountain time and Saturday's contest at Idaho starts at 8 p.m. mountain time. Jerry Miller will broadcast both games on 101.1 KEIR. To follow the games online with live audio, video and stats fans can log onto isubengals.com.

Series vs. Eastern Washington
Eastern Washington leads the series 44-28. The Bengals have lost three straight to the Eagles after winning 83-72 in Pocatello on Jan. 4, 2014. Eastern Washington swept the series last year, winning 85-81 in Pocatello and 65-57 in Cheney. ISU has lost 13 straight at Eastern Washington, with the last victory being 65-63 during th 2002-03 season.

Scouting  Eastern Washington
Eastern Washington is 16-12 and 10-6 in Big Sky Conference play. The Eagles boast a 10-0 record at home and are led in scoring by Austin McBroom's 21.5 points and 23.4 points a game in conference. Venky Jois is scoring 18.2 in conference and 16.9 overall while shooting .712 percent from the field in league and .697 percent overall. The Eagles are averaging 83 points a game overall and 85 in conference while giving up 77.8 overall and 78.9 in league. EWU is shooting .505 percent from the field in league and .498 overall.

Series vs. Idaho
Idaho leads the series 57-45. The Bengals won the last meeting between the two schools, 67-65, in Pocatello on March 7, 2015. The Vandals had won the previous three meetings. ISU's last win in Moscow was 71-69 in overtime during the 2007-08 season.

Scouting Idaho
Idaho is 18-11 and 10-6 in Big Sky Conference play. Victor Sanders leads the Vandals in scoring at 15.7 points a game and Perrion Callandret is scoring 14 points a game. Idaho averages 69.5 poings and gives up 65.6 points a game. The Vandals shoot 44.4 percent from the field and .378 percent from the three-point line. Sanders is averaging 17.6 in conference and Callandret is scoring 14.3.

Notes from the Win over Montana State
- Ethan Telfair's six 3-pointers tied his season-high. He also had six in a home loss to North Dakota.
- This was the third time this year Ethan Telfair played 40 minutes,
-  Evann Hall made his first start of the season on Senior Night.

Most 30+ Point Games in a Season
Lawrence Butler    15    1978-79
Willie Humes    14    1970-71
Willie Humes-     9    1969-70
Dave Wagnon     8    1965-66
Ethan Telfair    6    2015-16

Most 30+ Point Games in a Career
Willie Humes    23    1969-71
Lawrence Butler    20    1977-79
Dave Wagnon     9    1964-66
Steve Hayes     7    1973-77
Ethan Telfair    6    2015-16

The Surprise Bengals
The Bengals were picked last by the coaches and media in the preseason polls. Now with two games to play ISU can finish as high as third place but no lower than sixth place.

From the Charity Stripe
 The Bengals have made more throws than the 2014-15 team. This year ISU is 456-626 from the line and the 2014-15 team was 391-601. The 2013-14 team was 500-701 from the foul line.

Records Watch
The school record for most 3-pointers made in a season is 237 by the 2000-01 team. This year's Bengal team has hit 235. This year's Bengal team has set the school record for most 3-pointers attempted in a season with 619. The previous record was 599 by the 2000-01 and 2006-07 team.

Did You Know....
- Ethan Telfair's 554 points this year is the most since Donn Holston scored 584 during the 1986-87 season.
- Ethan Telfair's .864 free throw percentage is the best since Danny Boticki shot .875 percent from the free throw line during the 2001-02 season.
- Ethan Telfair's 153 assists is the most since Jordi McTavish had 155 during the 2000-01 season.
- Ethan Telfair's 61 steals is the most since Terance Fleming had 64 during the 1993-94 season.