Men's Hoops Hosts Portland State Thursday in Reed Gym

Men's Basketball | 1/16/2018 3:34:00 PM

Notes | Audio | Video | Live Stats | Tickets

POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team returns home to host Portland State on Thursday, January 18 and Sacramento State on Saturday, January 20. Both games begin at 7 p.m. in Reed Gym. Jerry Miller and Brad Bugger will call the action live on 102.5 KMGI. Live audio, video and stats are available through isubengals.com. Following this week's games the Bengals remain at home to host Weber State on Saturday, January 27 at 7 p.m. in Holt Arena.

Scouting Portland State
Portland State is 12-6 and 2-3 in Big Sky Conference play. Deontae North leads the Viking offense with a scoring average of 20.8 points a game. Bryce Canda is scoring 15.9 points and grabbing 7.1 rebounds and Holland Woods is netting 10.4 points a game. Portland State averages 90.1 points a game and shoots .455 percent from the field. PSU shoots .364 percent from the three-point line and .686 percent from the free throw line. The Vikings average 37.5 rebounds, 18.1 assists, 12.4 turnovers, 11.9 steals and 4.1 blocks a game.

Bengals vs. Portland state
Here is a closer look at the series since 2010.
Portland State (20-29)
14-10 Home, 5-19 Away, 1-0 Neutral
2/9/2017         A     L     69-74     
2/11/2016     H     W     88-71     
1/16/2016     A     W     73-70     
1/24/2015     H     W     80-76     
3/8/2014         A     L            78-74     OT
1/2/2014         H     W     87-76
3/9/2013          A     W     72-71
12/20/2012     A     L     63-49     
2/9/2012         H     L     54-67
1/16/2012     A     L     68-80     
2/10/2011     A     W     84-79     
1/2/2011         H     L     72-79
2/26/2010     H     L     98-63
1/23/2010     H     W          88-80     

Did You Know
- Geno Luzcando is 11th in the nation in steals per game at 2.5. He is also 19th in total steals with 40.

Best Start by a Bengal Team in 20 years
Despite dropping two games last week, ISU's 8-8 record is tied for the second-best start in the last 20 years. The 2002-03 team was 9-7 after 16 games whiles the 2006-07 team was also 8-8.

Did you Know
- Geno Luzcando has scored in double figures in 51 games dating back to the start of his sophomore season.
- Since his sophomore year, Geno Luzcando has 49 games with two steals or more.
- Novak Topalovic has recorded five rebounds or more in 57 games since the 2015-16 season.
- Under Bill Evans ISU is 8-0 when scoring 90 points or more.
- Five of ISU's eight wins have come when four or more players have scored in double figures.

Notes from the Loss to Northern Colorado
- Geno Luzcando now has 1,012 points, ranking him 21st all-time and passing Ev Fopma's 1,007 points. Sam Beckham is ranked 20th with 1,021 points.
- This is Idaho State's first loss under Bill Evans when five players score in double figures. ISU is now 6-1 under Evans when five players score in double figures. This is the third time this season five players have scored in double figures for the Bengals.
- The Bengals are 0-6 this year when giving up 80 points or more.
- Brandon Boyd tied his career-high in rebounds with eight.
- Balint Mocsan played a career-high 38 minutes.

Luzcando Sets ISU All-Time Steals Record
With five steals in the 62-60 win at Weber State, Geno Luzcando became the ISU All-Time steals leader. He broke Jim Rhode's (1985-89)  record of 189.
Here is a closer look at Luzcando's year by year steal mark.
2014-15: 36
2015-16: 61
2016-17: 61
2017-18: 40

Luzcando Reaches 1,000 Point Mark
Geno Luzcando has 1012 points for his career. Only 21 Bengals have reached the 1,000 point mark prior to Luzcando. The most recent 1,000 point scorer at ISU was Ethan Telfair (2015-17) and Chris Hansen (2012-15). Telfair ranks 17th with 1,119 points and Hansen ranks ninth with 1,355 points.
2017-18- 156
2016-17- 318
2015-16- 446
2014-15- 92

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