No. 4 Bengals Play No. 5 North Dakota Thursday in Reno

Men's Basketball | 3/9/2016 12:13:00 AM

Notes | Audio | Video | Live Stats


RENO, Nev. -  The Idaho State men's basketball team makes its first appearance in the Big Sky Conference tournament since the 2011-12 season. ISU enters the tournament this year as the No. 4 seed and it will play North Dakota at 3:35 p.m. (MDT) at the Reno Events Center. Jerry Miller will call the action live on 101.1 KEIR. Fans can follow the action online with live video, audio and stats by logging onto isubengals.com.

Series vs. North Dakota
North Dakota leads the series 8-1. UND has won seven straight meetings, with the Bengals only victory being 76-63 on Dec. 3, 2011 in Pocatello. That win was before North Dakota joined the Big Sky Conference.

Scouting North Dakota
North Dakota is 16-14 and finished Big Sky Conference play with a 10-8 record, good for a fifth place finish. North Dakota averaged 76.8 points a game in conference and 73.9 overall. The UND defense allows 72.3 points a game in league and 71.2 overall. North Dakota shoots .480 percent from the field in conference and .454 percent overall. Opponents are shooting just under 44 percent against UND. Quinton Hooker, who earned first-team all-conference honors averaged 20.6 points in league and 19.5 overall. He shoots .523 percent from the field.

Bengals in the Big Sky Tournament
This year is the first time the Bengals have been in the Big Sky tournament since the 2011-12 season. That year the Bengals lost to Eastern Washington 81-75 in Cheney. The Bengals are 15-21 in the Big Sky Conference tournament. In 2008 and 2009 the Bengals hosted first round games in Pocatello and beat Montana 67-65 in 2008 and Northern Colorado 67-60. The Bengals then lost in the semi-finals to Portland State both years, 72-61 in 2008 and 61-53 in 2009. The last time ISU won the conference tournament was during the 1986-87 season. The Bengals finished the regular season 5-9 in league and tied for fifth and won the tournament by beating Nevada 92-81 in the title game.

ISU Close to Record for Most Games Played in a Season
ISU has played 30 games  this year. The school record for most games played in a season is 33 by the 1984-85 team. The 2008-09 team played 32 games and the 2007-08, 2003-04, 1986-87 and 1983-84 teas played 31 games.

Telfair and Luzcando Earn All-Conference Honors
Ethan Telfair was named the Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year and he earned first-team all-conference honors. Geno Luzcando was named to the honorable mention team. The honors were voted on by the coaches in the conference. Telfair is the first Bengal to earn first-team all-conference since Amorrow Morgan in 2008-09.

Idaho State Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Years
2015-16- Ethan Telfair
2000-01- Jordie McTavish
1993-94- Terance Fleming

Did You Know...
Montana and North Dakota are the only Big Sky Conference schools that Idaho State has not beat since coach Evans has been the head coach. The Bengals are 0-7 against both schools.

Telfair Dominates NCAA and Conference Stats
Take a look at where Ethan Telfair ranks in the NCAA and conference categories in the following areas.
                                        NCAA Ranking    Conf. Ranking    Total    
Free Throw Made                8th                    1st                    202
Steals Per Game                15th                    1st                2.20
Total Steals                        16th                    1st                  66
FT Attempts                        17th                    1st                232
Points Per Game                27th                    2nd               20.3
Total Assists                        32nd                1st                164
FT %                                    25th                1st                87.1
Total Points                        31st                2nd                609
Assists Per Game            35th                1st                5.5

Best Winning Percentage in Conference
The Bengals 11-7 record in Big Sky Conference play is good for an .611 winning percentage, the best since the 2000-01 team finished 10-6, good for a .625 winning percentage.

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    7    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    7    2015-16

The Surprise Bengals
The Bengals were picked last by the coaches and media in the preseason polls. This year they finished fourth place.

From the Charity Stripe
 The Bengals have made more throws than the 2014-15 team. This year ISU is 496-678 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 2015-16 Bengals now hold the school record for most 3-pointers made and attempted in a season. ISU has made 244 3's on 659 attempts and shooting .370 percent from behind the arc. The previous record for makes was 237 by the 2000-01 team and 599 attempts by the 2000-01 and the 2006-07 teams.