Bengals Aim to Hunt Down Grizzlies In Finale of Road Trip

Pocatello, ID- The Bengals men's basketball team will be back in action on Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Dahlberg Arena in Missoula, Montana to take on the University of Montana Grizzlies. In the last 20 seasons (since 2003) the Bengals have a record of 8-33 against the Grizzlies in 41 contests, losing their last 23 of 25 matchups.
 
Montana comes into the game with a record of 8-9 on the season and 2-3 thus far in Big Sky Conference play, losing their latest matchup on Thursday against Weber State by two. The Grizzlies are averaging 69.3 points per game on 45.1 percent shooting from the field and 35.8 percent from deep (2^nd in the Big Sky).
 
Idaho State will look to shut down Montana behind their stellar defense and three-point shooting. The Bengals' defense has been a force to be reckoned with this season holding opponents to just 29 percent from three-point land this season (25^th in the nation), 43.1% shooting from the field (3^rd in the Big Sky), and average 6.4 steals per game (3^rd in the Big Sky). The Bengals have also been lights-out from three-point territory this year averaging 8.4 threes per game (85^th in the country).
 
Tip will be at 7 p.m. in Dahlberg Arena in Missoula, Montana. Jerry Miller will call the game on KISU.

University of Montana (8-9)
Home (5-3), Away (2-6), Neutral (1-0)
ISU Recent Series vs. MSU
2/7/2022                    H                     L          72-54
2/5/2022                    H                     W        86-63
12/30/2021               A                     L          78-54
2/27/2021                 H                     L          59-58
2/25/2021                 H                     L          64-58
2/15/2020                 A                     L          78-63
1/23/2020                 H                     L          77-74
 
Montana State University Recap
The Idaho State men's basketball team came up short against the Montana State Bobcats Thursday night, falling 81-68. The Bengals drop to 6-11, 3-1 BSC, losing their first conference game of the season. After the win Montana State moves to 11-7 on the year and 4-1 in conference play.
 
The Bengals and Bobcats exchanged buckets in a tight first half as Montana State led Idaho State 39-34 at the break. However, turnovers plagued the Bengals tonight as the Bobcats forced the Bengals to commit 14 turnovers leading to 11 Bobcat points.
Ed Chang led the Bengals in scoring tonight finishing with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field and 3-of-5 from the three-point land in 20 minutes off the bench. Miguel Tomley added 12 points and six rebounds, Maleek Arington finished with 10 points, three rebounds, two steals, and two assists, and Jay Nagle, Brayden Parker, and Kolby Lee all finished with nine points apiece.
 
The Bengals shot 50 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from deep making 8-of-23 shots from three-point territory. Idaho State finished with 11 assists and 26 rebounds. Montana State finished with 52 percent shooting from the field and 30.8 percent from deep.
 
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        

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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 6^th in the Big Sky in three-pointers made (37), and 7^th three-pointers per game (2.18)
• Brock Mackenzie and Miguel Tomley are both top 12 in the Big Sky in three-pointers per game and total three pointers made
• The Bengals are currently 85^th in the nation in three-pointers made per game (8.4 per game)
• The Bengals' defense is currently 1^st in the Big Sky and 25^th in the country in three-point percentage defense, holding opponents to just 29 percent from three this season
  • The Bengals' defense ranks 3^rd in the Big Sky in steals per game (6.4) and 5^th in the Big Sky in blocks per game (2.7)