PHOTO GALLERY
POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team dropped an 84-71 decision to Utah Valley University on Tuesday night in Reed Gym. The game was close for the first 30 minutes as no team led by more than seven points but UVU went on a 15-6 run midway through the second half to put game away and earn the victory.
"We played good for 30 minutes but you have to play good for 40," Idaho State coach
Bill Evans said. "Defensively we have to get better. Defense is a lot about determination but I think my guys played hard. We just have to be more determined to get stops."
Brandon Boyd had a career-high 28 points. He was 9-16 from the field, had four steals and was 7-10 from the free throw line in 36 minutes of play. Four steals tied Boyd's career-high.
Geno Luzcando had 11 points and three steals in 38 minutes and Jacob McCord had 10 points in 21 minutes off the bench.
Idaho State shot 48 percent for the game and 60 percent in the second half. The Bengals only turned the ball over 11 times and had 10 steals.
"Shooting 60 percent from the floor in the second half is a positive," Evans said. "I think we played pretty hard. Brandon was a bright spot scoring 28 points on 16 shots. That is pretty good and shooting 48 percent will usually win games."
The Bengals were outrebounded 38-22 and UVU shot 52.3 percent for the game. Jake Toolson led the Wolverines with 27 points.
Idaho State had several leads throughout the first half. The Bengals led 14-11 with 13:52 left in the first half following a 3-pointer by Balint Mocsan and then 17-14 following a Boyd three.
UVU built a 26-21 lead with 5:55 left in the first half when the Bengals scored six straight points to take a 27-26 lead after a jumper by
Novak Topalovic, Boyd and Luzcando.
ISU's last lead was 29-28 with 2:46 left until halftime. The Wolverines then outscored ISU 8-1 to take a 36-30 lead at the break.
Utah Valley led the entire second half. ISU stayed within striking distance early trailing 49-48 with 14:07 left in the game and 57-54 with 10:55 remaining.
UVU then went on its 15-6 run to put the game away and lead 74-60 with 5:05 left. Utah Valley's biggest lead of the game was 19 at 82-63.
"We turned the ball over two or three times in that stretch," Evans said. "When you make three consecutive turnovers that is a lot of points."
ISU plays at Washington State on Saturday, Nov. 18. Tipoff is at 2:30 p.m. mountain time. The game will be televised on the Pac 12 Network.
Â
Â
