PHOTO GALLERY
RENO, Nev.- The Idaho State men's basketball season came to an end on Tuesday evening at the Reno Events Center after a 76-68 loss to Southern Utah in the opening day of the Big Sky Conference tournament.
Brandon Boyd led Idaho State with 22 points and
Geno Luzcando scored 21 points in his final game as a Bengal.
Jared Stutzman finished with 11.
Idaho State shot 44.1 percent from the field but was 3-17 from the three-point line and 13-22 from the free throw line. The Bengals were out rebounded 39-34 but were led by
Novak Topalovic's 14.
Southern Utah shot 42.9 percent from the field and was 21-26 from the free throw line and 7-21 from the three-point line.
Idaho State led 28-20 with 7:15 left in the first half following a 3-pointer by Stutzman. Foul trouble by the Bengals sent four starters to the bench and the T-Birds then ended the first half on a 19-5 run to take a 39-33 lead at the break.
SUU built a 13 point lead early in the second half at 48-35. The Bengals made several runs and got within two at 50-48 with 11:10 left in the game after a dunk by Luzcando.
Idaho State got no closer than three points the rest of the way at 66-63 with 2:03 remaining after a 3-pointer by Boyd.
The loss ends the incredible career of Luzcando. He leaves ISU as the all-time leader in steals with 217 and one of the best in the history of the Big Sky Conference as he finishes his career ranked sixth all-time.
He finished his career with 1,190 points, ranking him 14
th all-time in ISU history, just behind Ron Boone's 1,221.
Erik Nakken and
Hayes Garrity also played their final games. Despite missing the a majority of the season
Kyle Ingram still played an important role in the Bengal men's basketball program.
The 9-9 record in Big Sky play was only the fourth time since the 2007-08 season that the Bengals have finished .500 or better.
