Bengals Take Down Eastern Oregon in Season Opener

 


POCATELLO, Idaho- Zach Visentin earned his first start of his Idaho State career in the Idaho State men's basketball team's season-opener vs. Eastern Oregon. The Bengal center scored a career-high 13 points on 6-of-6 shooting and grabbed five rebounds as the Bengals earned the 82-61 victory.

Tarik Cool led the Bengals with 16 points while Robert Ford III had 14 and Brayden Parker 14 off the bench.

Idaho State shot 49 percent from the field and converted on 24-35 free throws. Idaho State out rebounded Eastern Oregon 35-28. Austin Smellie had a career-best eight boards.

Eastern Oregon jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the first two minutes of the game. The Bengals then scored the next eight points to lead 9-7 with 15:16 left in the first half after a Cool jumper.

The Bengals took the lead for good at 11-10 after another Cool basket and later led 25-15 with 9:59 left in the first half after a Smellie 3-pointer. The Bengals led by as many as 15 points in the first half at 34-19 after two Parker free throws.

Idaho State led 38-27 and led by as many as 23 points at 55-32 after Parker basket with 14:27 left in the game. Eastern Oregon got no closer than within 17 points the rest of the way.

Idaho State returns to the court on Friday, Nov. 12 for an 8 p.m. (MST) contest at Pepperdine.