Bengals Triumph Over Vandals In A Nail-biter

Moscow, ID- The Idaho State men's basketball team traveled to Moscow, Idaho Saturday afternoon to face off with their rivals, the University of Idaho Vandals. The Bengals were able to take an early first-half lead and stretch it to eight points, however the Vandals responded and took a one-point lead into halftime as the Bengals trailed 37-36. The second half was nothing short of a spectacle. The Bengals and Vandals went back and forth all 20 minutes exchanging buckets down low, however after layup with four seconds remaining the Vandals tied the game at 81 and sent it to overtime. In OT we saw Brock Mackenzie and Maleek Arington take over as they combined for 10 of the Bengals' 14 overtime points and take home the win, 95-91. After the win the Bengals improve to 8-14 on the year & 5-4 in Big Sky Conference play, the Idaho Vandals will fall to 8-15 on the season and 2-8 in conference play.

Brock Mackenzie led the Bengals tonight as he put up a career high 30 points making a career high 11-of-19 shots from the field, and tying a season high five rebounds. Brayden Parker tallied 16 points five rebounds, and one steal after fouling out late in the second half, and Austin Smellie also had 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, a perfect 3-of-3 from deep, and two assists, and two steals. We also saw Miguel Tomley finish with 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists.

Idaho State finished the game shooting 56.3 percent from the field and 45 percent from deep finishing 9-of-20 from deep. The Bengals tallied 13 assists, 33 rebounds, and 5 steals. The University of Idaho finished with shooting 50.9 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from beyond the arc.

The Idaho State men's basketball team will return home from their two-game road trip on Saturday, February 4^th and will look to complete their first season sweep of the Weber State Wildcats in 19 years.