POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team lost 71-55 to Southern Utah on Thursday evening in Reed Gym.
Southern Utah (10-5, 3-1) led the entire game and held a lead as big as 16 at different times in the second half.
SUU shot 49.1 percent from the field while Idaho State was held to 32.7 percent shooting. Idaho State out rebounded the T-Birds 38-31.
Jared Stutzman had a team-high six.
Chier Maker had 15 points and
Lyle Sutton played a career-best 18 minutes and scored 10 points.
The Bengals fell behind 20-6 in the first nine minutes of the game. ISU then went on an 18-7 run to cut its deficit to 27-24 after a 3-pointer by
Tarik Cool. The Bengals got no closer the rest of the way.
Idaho State trailed 33-29 at halftime and stayed within striking distance for the first 10 minutes of the second half.
SUU led 46-40 with 10:37 to play after a free throw by Stutzman. The T-Birds then outscored Idaho State 12-4 to lead 58-44 with 6:55 left in the game. The lead would remain in double digits the rest of the way.
Idaho State returns to the court for a 4 p.m. contest on Saturday, January 11 at NAU. The Bengals then host Weber State on January 16 at 7 p.m. in Reed Gym.
