PHOTO GALLERY
POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State men's basketball team made a second-half rally before falling to Eastern Washington 74-69 on Saturday night in Reed Gym.
The Bengals trailed 38-25 at halftime but shot 69.6 percent from the field in the second half to get back in the game and take a 69-68 lead with 2:01 to play following a
Balint Mocsan 3-pointer.
Eastern Washingon's Bogdan Bliznyuk then hit a 3-pointer to give Eastern a 71-69 lead. The Bengals were unable to convert on the offensive end, allowing the Eagles to earn the victory.
Brandon Boyd had a game-high 23 points while
Novak Topalovic had 17 points and five rebounds.
Geno Luzcando had 13 points and four assists. The Bengals shot 54.2 percent for the game and was 10-19 from the three-point line.
ISU was 7-13 from the free throw line and was out rebounded 32-26. Eastern Washington shot 48.4 percent from the field and was led in scoring by Bliznyuk's 17 points and eight rebounds.
Eastern Washington jumped on the Bengals early in the game, jumping out to an early 12-5 lead. The Eagles led 25-14 with 8:18 to play and ISU got no closer than 25-18 following a Boyd layup with 7:02 to play in the half.
The Eagles scored the opening basket of the second half to take a 40-25 lead. That would be the Eagles biggest lead of the game.
Eastern Washington maintained its double-digit lead as it held a 50-40 lead with 11:48 left in the game and 66-56 with 5:40 left. ISU then went on a 13-2 run to take the 69-68 lead following the Mocsan 3-pointer.
Stutzman started the run with a 3-pointer and Topalovic followed with a dunk to cut the EWU lead to 66-61. Luzcando then hit two free throws and Boyd hit a 3-pointer to cut the Eastern lead to 68-66 with 2:57 to play.
After a missed 3-pointer by the Eagles, Mocsan gave ISU its 69-68 lead.
Idaho State closes out the regular season next week at Montana and Montana State.
Notes
-
Novak Topalovic wore No. 35 in honor of fellow teammate and senior
Kyle Ingram who has missed a majority of the season due to injury.
- Although
Kyle Ingram is unable to play he was still able to be recognized during the starting lineups.
Erik Nakken,
Hayes Garrity also started with
Geno Luzcando. It was the ninth different starting lineup of the season.
- ISU has shot 50 percent or better from the field in five of the last seven games.
- ISU has shot 50 percent or better from the three-point line in three of the last four games.
-
Hayes Garrity played a season-high 16 minutes and scored five points.
