Game 12: Idaho State Hosts SUU in Holt Arena

Men's Basketball | 1/2/2019 11:15:00 AM

Notes | Audio | Video | Live Stats | Tickets

POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team plays its Big Sky Conference home opener on Thursday, Jan. 3 at 7 p.m. in Holt Arena vs. SUU. The Bengals then host NAU on Saturday, January 5 at 7 p.m. in Holt. Jerry Miller and Brad Bugger will call both games on 102.5 KMGI. To follow on line with live stats, audio and video log onto isubengals.com.

On Saturday, there will be a mascot game. The Jazz Bear (Utah Jazz), Charlie the Chukar (Idaho Falls Chukars), Willy the Wolverine (UVU), Share Bear (ICCU), Polar Bear (Swire Coca-Cola), Banana (Jamba Juice) and Blazin Bill (Buffalo Wild Wings) will join Benny the Bengal for a friendly halftime competition.

Scouting SUU
Southern Utah is 5-6 and 0-2 in Big Sky Conference play. Cameron Oluyitan and Dwayne Morgan are each averaging 13 points a game. Harrison Butler is the top rebounder at 6.2 a game.  SUU is scoring 77.5 points a game and giving up 77.3. The T-Birds shoot .437 percent from the field and allow opponents to shoot .428 percent. SUU shoots .332 percent from the three-point line, .631 percent from the free throw line and average 38.4 rebounds.

In two conference games, Oluyitan and Brandon Better are averaging 13.5 points a game. SUU is shooting .404 percent from the field and opponents are shooting .515 percent. SUU is shooting .286 percent from the three-point line and in two conference games, Montana and Montana State combined to shoot .429 percent. Jacob Calloway is averaging 13 points and 7.5 rebounds in two conference games.

Southern Utah (13-17)             
9-6 Home 4-10 Away     0-1 Neutral        
3/6/2018            N    L    76-68
2/3/2018            A     L     84-80                
1/4/2018            H     W     93-78                 
2/4/2017            H     W     94-68                 
2/20/2016          A     W     89-71                 
1/28/2016         H     W     87-68                 
2/14/2015         H     L     71-67                 
1/15/2015         A     L     71-67                 
2/15/2014         A     W     75-65                 
1/16/2014         H     W     60-45                 
2/7/2013         H     L     81-79     OT             
1/12/2013        A     W     54-53     
3/7/2013         H     L     87-73
12/22/2012     A     L     57-54                 
3/3/2012         A     L     81-75
2/28/2012        A     L     67-64                 
2/23/2012        H     L     85-78

Northern Arizona (55-46)             
37-13 Home, 17-31 Away, 1-2 Neutral             
2/1/2018             A     W     63-61                 
1/6/2018             H     W     64-60                 
2/2/2017             H     W     91-90     OT             
2/18/2016         A     L     81-68                 
1/30/2016         H     W     88-66                 
2/12/2015         H     W     80-66                 
1/17/2015         A     L     72-69                 
2/27.2014         H     L     66-65                 
2/1/2014         A     L     67-65
2/28/2013         A     L     67-58                 
1/19/2013         H     L     60-55                 
2/11/2013         A     W     79-73                 
1/21/2012         H     W     78-62                 
2/12/2011         H     W      90-88     OT             
1/6/2011            A     L      82-80     OT             
2/13/2010         H     W      73-71     OT             
1/7/2010             A     L     68-56

Recapping Eastern Washington
- Idaho State scored a season-low 55 points.
- 17 turnovers was a season-high.
- Under Bill Evans ISU is 1-32 when scoring 50-59 points in a game.
- 3 Free throw made and 6 attempted is a season low.
- ISU is 0-3 when turning the ball over 16 times or more.
- This was the Bengals first loss when giving up less than 80 points.
- Kelvin Jones had a season-high nine rebounds.
- Balint Mocsan tied his season-high in points with 17 and his 10 3-pointers attempted tied his career-high.
- This was the first loss of the season when out rebounding an opponent.
- Idaho State did get off to a nice start in the first half as they opened the game with an 8-0 lead and later a 21-11 lead following a Mocsan 3-pointer with 11:54 to play until halftime.
- Idaho State later led 27-17 with 6:21 left in the half after a four-point play by Jared Stutzman. The Bengals biggest lead of the game was 31-20 with 4:19 to play until the break after a layup by Alonzo Walker.
- In the final four minutes of the first half and the first five minutes of the second half, the Eagles went on a 21-7 run to take a 41-38 lead with 15:11 left in the game.
- The Bengals led 49-48 after a basket by Brandon Boyd and the game would be tied at 51 with 5:58 to play following another basket by Boyd.
- But over the final five minutes, Idaho State was outscored 14-4 and turned the ball over five times to allow Eastern Washington to pull away.

Big Sky Stats
                                    ISU            SUU
Scoring                        5th, 75.9    4th, 77.5
Scoring Defense            9th, 77.6    8th, 77.3
Field Goal %                5th, .452    7th, .437
Field Goal % Defense     8th, .462    3rd, .428
3-Point FG%                   1st, .392    8th, .332
3-Point FG% Defense     4th, .336    5th, .340
Assists                        2nd, 14.6    8th, 12.8
Steals                        8th, 5.2    3rd, 8.1
3-Point FG Made           2nd, 10.1    5th, 8.6

Bengals in NCAA Stats
- ISU is ranked 13th in fewest turnovers with 134.
- ISU is ranked 20th in three-point field goals per game at 10.1.
- ISU is ranked 23rd in three-point field goal percentage at 39.2
- Gary Chivichyan ranks third in three-point field goal percentage at 55.8.