Bengals Prepare For Showdown With Bobcats

Pocatello, ID- The Idaho State men's basketball team will be returning to the floor this Saturday, February 11^th in Reed Gym to face the Montana State University Bobcats. The Bengals are looking to end an eight-game losing streak against the Bobcats, including an 81-68 loss to the Bobcats in Bozeman earlier this season on January 12^th. The Bengals last win against the Bobcats came in March of 2018 as they defeated the Bobcats 101-78.

Montana State enters the game with a 17-9 record on the season and 10-3 in Big Sky Conference play, losing their latest matchup on Thursday against Weber State in Ogden by 10. The Bobcats are averaging 74.8 points per game on 47.6 percent shooting from the field and 33.6 percent from beyond the arc.

The Bengals will look to limit the Bobcats' offense Saturday night behind their superb defending on the year. Idaho State's defense has been holding opposing teams to just 32.3 percent from three-point land (2^nd in the Big Sky), 44.5 percent shooting from the field, and average 6.1 steals per game (3^rd in the Big Sky).

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 +.

Montana State University (17-9)
Home (9-1), Away (8-5), Neutral (0-3)
ISU Recent Series vs. MSU
1/12/2023                 A                     L          81-68
2/7/2022                    H                     L          72-54
1/1/2022                    A                     L          60-40
3/11/2021                 N                     L          71-63
2/13/2020                 A                     L          73-69
1/25/2020                 H                     L          75-64
 
University of Montana Recap
The Bengals men's basketball squad took on the University of Montana Grizzlies for the second time this season, Thursday evening. Idaho State fell behind in the first half as they trailed by 10 with just a little over five minutes remaining but capped the first half off on a 13-3 run and went into half-time tied with the Griz at 34. In the second half Idaho State drew stagnant as the Griz went on a 16-6 run to open the second-half. As the game seemed out of reach late the Bengals made one last ditch effort to form a comeback. Idaho State got to within four of Montana but the Griz remained cool and composed as they went 9-of-10 from the charity stripe in the final minute of the contest and took home the victory, defeating the Bengals by a final score of 69-61. Following the loss Idaho State drops to 9-16 on the season & 6-6 in conference play, the University of Montana Grizzlies will bump up to 13-12 on the year and 7-6 in the Big Sky after the win.
 
Brock Mackenzie was Idaho State's leading scorer on the evening as he tallied 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field, a season-high seven rebounds, and two assists. We saw Kolby Lee finished with 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting, five rebounds, one block, and one steal and Brayden Parker snag eight rebounds, two points, three blocks, and one assist in just 20 minutes played. AJ Burgin also had one of his better games this season as he came in off the bench and scored nine points on 3-of-6 shooting from the field and 2-of-4 from three-point land, two rebounds, one block, and one steal in 16 minutes.
 
The Bengals finished the game shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from deep making just 3-of-18 shots from beyond the arc. The Bengals tallied 8 assists, 39 rebounds, and 6 steals. Montana finished the game shooting 44 percent from the field and 55.6 percent from distance. This was the first time all season the Bengals have allowed an opponent to shoot 50% or better from behind the three-point line.
 
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 9^th in the Big Sky in three-pointers made (48) and 10^th in the Big Sky three-pointers per game (1.92)
• Miguel Tomley is currently 10^th in the Big Sky in three-pointers made (46) and 12^th in three-pointers made per game (1.84)
• Brayden Parker is now 6^th in the Big Sky in total blocks (19) and blocks per game (0.79)
• The Bengals' defense is currently 2^nd in the Big Sky and 108^th in the country in three-point percentage defense, holding opponents to just 31.4 percent from deep this season
• The Bengals' defense ranks 3^rd in the Big Sky in steals per game (6.1)