Bengals Look to Avenge Last Year's Tournament Loss, Take On Vikings Saturday Night

Pocatello, ID- Your Bengals men's basketball team will be back in action this Saturday, January 21^st in Reed Gym at 6 p.m. for their clash with the Portland State Vikings. Since 2003 (the last 20 seasons) the Bengals have posted a record of 15-27 against the Vikings over 42 total games. The Bengals have been on a recent skid against Portland State over the last couple of years, dropping their last 10 of 12 meetings against the Vikings. Including last season's Big Sky Conference tournament opening round game where the Vikings defeated the Bengals 66-52, ending the Bengals' 2021-22 campaign.
 
Portland State enters the matchup with an 8-11 record on the season and 2-4 in Big Sky Conference play, losing their latest matchup against Weber State on Thursday by double digits. The Vikings are averaging 77.2 points per game (1^st in the Big Sky) on 44.3 percent shooting from the field and 34.4 percent from beyond the arc. The Vikings love to wreak havoc and cause chaos on the defensive end of the floor as they currently average 8.1 steals per game (55^th in the country) and 16.6 fastbreak points per game (9^th in the country)
 
Idaho State will look to take care of Portland State behind their lock-down defense. The Bengals' defense has been absolutely lock-down this season holding opponents to just 30.6 percent from three-point land (58^th in the nation), 43.4% shooting from the field (4^th in the Big Sky), and average 6.2 steals per game (3^rd in the Big Sky). The Bengals have also been making it rain from deep this year averaging 8.3 threes per game (94^th in the country). In order for Idaho State to come out victorious they will need to value the rock. The Bengals currently average just 12 turnovers per game (3^rd in the Big Sky) however, they will need to limit these giveaways against a Portland State team who makes their living off of steals and transition buckets.
 
The tip will be at 6 p.m. in Reed Gym. Jerry Miller will call the game on KISU and Dylan Carder will call the game on ESPN +.

Portland State (8-11)
Home (4-2), Away (3-7), Neutral (1-2)
ISU Recent Series vs. PSU
3/9/2022                    N                     L          66-52
2/26/2022                 A                     L          73-69 (OT)
12/2/2021                 H                     L          63-55
1/23/2021                 A                     L          69-43
1/21/2021                 A                     W        64-57
 
Sacramento State Recap
The Idaho State men's basketball team battled with the Sacramento State Hornets tonight, holding off the Hornets late rally attempt and winning the game 65-61. The Bengals improve to 7-12 on the season & 4-2 in Big Sky Conference play. After the loss Sacramento State drops to 11-8 on the year & 4-2 in conference play.
 
The Bengals came out of the gates firing, surging to a 16-point lead just 10 minutes into the game behind Brayden Parker's early three triples. The Bengals kept the momentum rolling throughout the first half as they went into the break leading the Hornets by 23 points, 45-22. In the second half we saw Sacramento State creep their way back into the game as they outscored the Bengals 32-9 in the final 15 minutes of the game. However, this late comeback attempt would fall short as the Bengals were able to hold off the Hornets and come out victorious, 65-61.
 
Brayden Parker was the Bengals top performer tonight as he totaled a team-high 22 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field, a career-high five made three-pointers, a career-high 13 rebounds, two steals, two assists, and one block. Kolby Lee and Miguel Tomley both tallied 10 points each and Maleek Arington had five points, three assists, one steal, and two blocks off the bench.
 
Idaho State shot 45.1 percent from the floor Thursday night and 34.8 percent from deep making 8-of-23 shots from three-point territory. The Bengals tallied 13 assists, 29 rebounds, and 4 steals. Sacramento State finished shooting 39.7 percent 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 10^th in the Big Sky in both three-pointers made (38) and three-pointers per game (2)
• The Bengals are currently 94^th in the nation in three-pointers made per game (8.3 per game)
• The Bengals' defense is currently 1^st in the Big Sky and 58^th in the country in three-point percentage defense, holding opponents to just 30.6 percent from three this season
• The Bengals' defense ranks 3^rd in the Big Sky in steals per game (6.2)