Bengals Embark On West Coast Road Trip

Pocatello, ID- The Bengals men's basketball team will be going on a road trip to the Pacific coast this week where they will find themselves taking on Portland State and Sacramento State. The Bengals will take on the Portland State University Vikings Thursday evening at 8 p.m. MST and will be looking to end a five-game losing streak against the Vikings, including a 72-65 loss to the Vikings in Pocatello on January 21^st. The Bengals are 1-8 against the Vikings in the last nine games played, their last win against the Vikings came in January of 2021 by a score of 64-57.

Portland State enters the contest with a 11-15 record on the year and 5-8 in conference play, defeating Northern Arizona at the buzzer in their latest matchup last Saturday. The Vikings are averaging 76.7 points per game (2^nd in the Big Sky) on 44.7 percent shooting from the field and 34.1 percent from beyond the arc.

The Bengals will look to limit the Vikings behind their stingy defense this season. Idaho State's defense has been holding opposing teams to just 31.8 percent from three-point land (2^nd in the Big Sky), 44.2 percent shooting from the field (3^rd in the Big Sky), and average 6 steals per game (3^rd in the Big Sky).

The tip will be at 8 p.m. in the Peter W. Stott Athletic Center in Portland, Oregon and Jerry Miller will call the game on KISU.

Portland State University (11-15)
Home (5-5), Away (5-8), Neutral (1-2)
ISU Recent Series vs. PSU
1/21/2023                 H                     L          72-65
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
 
Montana State University Recap
Idaho State's men's basketball team battled the Montana State University Bobcats Saturday night in a thriller. The Bengals and Bobcats exchanged buckets all first half and neither team could shake the other as the teams went into halftime all knotted up at 29 apiece. In the second half the Bengals struggled out of the gates, as they fell behind by six. Idaho State answered right back as they came back to exchange leads with the Bobcats in the final minutes. As the contest came down to the wire, late game free-throws and turnovers ailed the Bengals as they went 4-of-8 from the free-throw line in the final 5:40 of the game and finished the game with 18 turnovers. Montana State turned those turnovers into 22 points, whereas the Bengals could only score six total points off turnovers all game. The Bengals fell to the Bobcats 58-52. Following the loss, the Bengals will fall to 9-17 on the season & 6-7 in conference play, their first time this season having a losing record in conference play. The Montana State University Bobcats will move up to 18-9 on the season and 11-3 in the Big Sky after the win.
 
Brock Mackenzie was Idaho State's top performer tonight as he finished with 12 points on 4-of-10 shooting from the field, a season-high six assists, three rebounds, and one block. Kolby Lee tallied 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting and three rebounds and Brayden Parker put up 11 points, four rebounds, and three blocks. Austin Smellie had eight points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Starting point guard, Miguel Tomley, was a late scratch from tonight's game as he was ruled out a few hours before gametime with a back injury.
 
The Bengals finished the game shooting 39.1 percent from the field and 50 percent from deep making 5-of-10 shots from beyond the arc. The Bengals tallied 12 assists, 34 rebounds, and just 2 steals. Montana State finished the game shooting 35.3 percent from the field and 14.3 percent from distance.
 
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 (49) and 10^th in the Big Sky three-pointers per game (1.88)
• Miguel Tomley is currently 14^th in the Big Sky in three-pointers made (46) and 13^th in three-pointers made per game (1.84)
• Brayden Parker is now 6^th in the Big Sky in total blocks (22) and blocks per game (0.88)
• The Bengals' defense is currently 2^nd in the Big Sky and 77^th in the country in three-point percentage defense, holding opponents to just 31.8 percent from deep this season
• The Bengals' defense ranks 3^rd in the Big Sky in steals per game (6)