Bengals Open Big Sky Play at Home Against NAU

Pocatello, ID- The Bengals will return home from their two-game road trip Thursday, December 29^th to open up Big Sky Conference play against Northern Arizona University at 7 p.m. in Reed Gym. The Bengals and Lumberjacks have met on 20 previous occasions, the Bengals winning 11 of them, including their last matchup back in February of this year.
 
NAU comes into the game with a record of 4-9 on the year, losing their latest matchup to Southern Utah University on December 17^th by five in overtime. The Lumberjacks are averaging 74.5 points per game on 42.3 percent shooting from the field and 33.8 percent from beyond the arc.
 
The Lumberjacks have been on a tear offensively this season averaging 15.8 assists per game (57^th in the country), 12.2 offensive rebounds per game (69^th in the country), and 8.8 three-pointers per game (T-67^th in the country). NAU has also been extremely efficient this season, with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.29 (58^th in the country). The Bengals will have their hands full Thursday night as the Lumberjacks are led by a top 50 rebounder in the nation in Carson Towt (8.5 RPG), and a top scorer in the nation at every level in Jalen Cone (17.8 PPG)
 
The Bengals will look to chop down the Lumberjacks behind their stout defense and ability to drain the deep ball. Idaho State's defense has held their opponents to 30.7 percent from three-point land this season (2^nd in the Big Sky), averages 3.2 blocks per game (3^rd in the Big Sky), and 6.5 steals per game (4^th in the Big Sky). The Bengals have had a hot start of their own from deep this year, averaging 8.8 three's per game (T-67^th in the nation) led by their starting guard tandem, Brock Mackenzie and Miguel Tomley who are both top 10 in the Big Sky in three-pointers per game and total three pointers made.
 
Tip will be at 7 p.m. in Reed Gym. Jerry Miller will call the game on KISU and Dylan Carder will call the game on ESPN +.

Northern Arizona University (4-9)
Home (3-2), Away (1-6), Neutral (0-1)
ISU Recent Series vs. NAU
02/24/2022         A               W        70-66
12/04/2021         H               L          73-70
01/09/2021         A               W        76-70
01/07/2021         A               W        73-69
03/11/2020         N               W        64-62
02/06/2020         H               L          88-87 OT
01/11/2020         A               W        71-67
 
Grand Canyon University Recap
The Idaho State men's basketball team came up just short against the Grand Canyon University Antelope Tuesday night in GCU Arena, falling 68-66.
 
The Bengals came out firing in the 1st half, jumping out to a 20-9 in the first eight minutes of the game. But after a few costly turnovers the Bengals found themselves tied with the Antelope 29-29 at the end of the half. Down the stretch the Bengals would not go away as they exchanged buckets with the Antelope going back and forth for the final ten minutes of the game. As the Bengals were down four with just 45 seconds to go Jay Nagle made a clutch three point shot to trim the lead to just one. However, after a missed jump shot by GCU the Bengals were unable to secure the rebound which led to two free-throws for the Antelope stretching their lead to three with just five seconds remaining. As time expired Miguel Tomley's desperation heave from half court fell wide left and the Bengals fell just short.
 
Brayden Parker was the Bengals leading scorer, finishing with 18 points and four rebounds on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, including one three-pointer. Miguel Tomley was able to add 13 points and a season high seven rebounds while Jay Nagle tallied 11 points and six rebounds on 3-of-4 shooting including two three-pointers. Brock Mackenzie and Austin Smellie also finished with eight points and apiece.
 
The Bengals shot 45.5 percent from the field and 25 percent from deep making five three-pointers on 20 attempts. The Bengals finish tonight's game with nine assists, 30 rebounds, and six steals. The Antelope were able to stave off the Bengals behind their ability to get out in transition and cleaning up in the paint. The Antelope finished with 19 offensive rebounds, outscored the Bengals in 2nd chance points 25-4, and points in the paint 44-22.

The Returning 6
0    AJ Burgin        G    So.    6-3    205    San Diego, Calif.
2    Tommy Ball    G    Fr.    6-0    175    El Dorado Hills, Calif.    
5    Austin Smellie    G    Sr.    6-5    200    Preston, Idaho
13    Daxton Carr    F    Jr.    6-7    215    Pocatello, Idaho    
22    Jared Rodriguez    F    Sr.    6-8    215    Glendale, Ariz.    
25    Brayden Parker    C    Jr.    6-8    250    Preston, Idaho        

Hello my name is
1    Jay Nagle        F    Sr.    6-9    215    Vacaville, Calif.        
3    Ronnie Stapp    G    Jr.    6-6    185    Bakersfield, Calif.        
10    Miguel Tomley    G    So.    6-3    200    Surrey, BC        
11    Brock Mackenzie    G    Sr.    6-2    185    Sammamish, Wash.    
12    Turner Livingston    F    Fr.    6-4    195    Spokane, Wash.        
14    Jordan Hansen    G    Fr.    6-6    215    Seattle, Wash.      
 20    Briggs Ranstrom    F    Fr.    6-6    205    Eagle, Idaho
23    Maleek Arington    G    Fr.    6-3    200    Lake Tapps, Wash.    
24    Ed Chang        F    Jr.    6-8    215    Papillion, Neb.      
 32    Kolby Lee        C    Sr.    6-9    240    Meridian, Idaho    
44    Louis Stormark    C    Fr.    6-9    250    Alleroed, Denmark    
 
Bengal Bites

• Brock Mackenzie is currently top 100 in the nation in three-pointers made (32)
• Brock Mackenzie and Miguel Tomley are both top 10 in the Big Sky in three-pointers per game and three pointers made
• The Bengals are currently T-67^th in the nation in three-pointers made per game (8.8 per game)
• The Bengals' defense is currently 2^nd in the Big Sky and 90^th in the country in three-point percentage defense, holding opponents to just 30.7 percent from three this season
  • The Bengals' defense ranks 3^rd in the Big Sky in steals per game (6.5) and 2^nd in the Big Sky in blocks per game (3.2)