Men's Basketball Drops 87-81 Contest to Northern Colorado

 
POCATELLO, Idaho- A late rally felt just short as the Idaho State men's basketball team dropped an 87-81 contest to Northern Colorado on Saturday night in Reed Gym. The Bengals trailed 77-65 with 5:38 left in the game. ISU cut the Bears lead to four at two different times in the final 1:13 but Northern Colorado sealed the victory by making six of eight free throws in the final 41 seconds.

"We need to play with more urgency from start to finish," Idaho State coach Bill Evans said. "Our guys really tried hard at the end."  

Ethan Telfair led the Bengals with a season-high 28 points on 10-22 shooting. Robert Jones III tied his season-high with 22 points on 8-10 shooting. He made 6 of 7 3-pointers and had five rebounds in 34 minutes.

"I am just trying to play within the system and do what the coaches tell me to do," Jones said. "I am comfortable in whatever, whether it sharing the ball or creating for others."

Brandon Boyd had 15 points and three steals.

The Bengals shot 48.2 percent from the field and made eight 3-pointers on 17 attempts. ISU was 19-27 from the free throw line but did miss six in the final 4:20 of the game.

Idaho State out rebounded Northern Colorado 34-28 and was led by Novak Topalovic's 12. Telfair had six.

Northern Colorado shot 50 percent from the field and made 14 3-pointers on 29 attempts.

Idaho State trailed the entire game and fell behind by as many as 16 points. ISU trailed 43-31 at halftime.

Northern Colorado opened the second half by taking a 55-39 lead at the 15 minute mark and later led 71-55 with 8:35 to play.

Trailing 77-65 with 5:38 to play, ISU went on a 9-2 run to cut the Bears lead 79-74 after a free throw by Boyd.

ISU got within four at 81-77 after a 3-pointer by Jones and later got within four at 83-79 after a UNC turnover that resulted in a layup by Telfair with 27 seconds left in the game. Idaho State would get no closer.

Idaho State plays its final two road games next week at Idaho and Eastern Washington before returning home to host Montana State and Montana on March 2 and 4.

Game Notes
- Ethan Telfair had a season-high 28 points. His 10 field goals made was a season-high.
- Robert Jones III tied his career-high with 22 points but he made a career-high six 3-pointers on seven attempts.
- Northern Colorado's 14 3-pointers ties for the most ISU has given up this year. The Bengals gave up 14 vs. Northern Arizona on Feb. 2 and Weber State on Jan. 25.
- Ethan Telfair moved into 18th place on the ISU career scoring list. He has 1,045 points and Matt Stucki currently ranks 17th with 1,079.
- Ethan Telfair's three assists moves him into fifth place with 284. Marquis Poole is in fourth with 290.
- Ethan Telfair moved up to eight for career free throws made with 324. Donn Holston is in seventh with 363.
- Idaho State is 0-12 when opponents shoot 50 percent or greater from the field.

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