Idaho State Seeks To End Three Game Skid

Pocatello, ID- The Bengals men's basketball team will be traveling to Sacramento, California this weekend where they will be battling against the Sacramento State Hornets Saturday afternoon at 5 p.m. MST. The Bengals and Hornets squared-off earlier this season on January 19^th in Pocatello, Idaho where we saw the Bengals come out on top by a final score of 65-61.

Sacramento State enters the contest with a 12-15 record on the season and 5-9 in conference play, falling to Weber State in their latest matchup on Thursday. The Hornets are averaging 65.8 points per game on 43.5 percent shooting from the field and 34.6 percent from beyond the arc.

The Bengals will look to stymie the Hornets behind their lock-down defense this season. Idaho State's defense has been holding opponents to just 32.3 percent from three-point land (3^rd in the Big Sky), 44.6 percent shooting from the field, and average 6 steals per game (3^rd in the Big Sky).

The tip will be at 5 p.m. in The Nest in Sacramento, CA and Jerry Miller will call the game on KISU.

Sacramento State University (12-15)
Home (8-4), Away (4-8), Neutral (0-3)
ISU Recent Series vs. CSUS
1/19/2023                 H                     W        65-61
2/19/2022                 H                     L          80-75
1/27/2022                 A                     L          61-60
1/18/2021                 H                     L          70-65
1/17/2021                 H                     W        57-56 (OT)
2/8/2020                    H                     L          63-59
1/4/2020                    A                     L          68-49
 
Portland State University Recap
Idaho State's men's basketball team battled the Portland State University Vikings Thursday evening. The Bengals and Vikings exchanged buckets all first half as neither team could get out in front of the other. The Bengals went into halftime leading the Vikings by two, 36-34 thanks to a last second layup by Brayden Parker. In the second half the Bengals kept it close until the six-minute mark where we saw the Vikings go on an 8-0 run to boost their lead to 10 with just three minutes remaining in the contest. The Bengals could not overcome the Vikings late surge as they lost the game 79-70. After the loss, the Bengals drop to 9-18 on the year and 6-8 in conference play. The Portland State University Vikings will jump up to 12-15 on the season and 6-8 in the Big Sky after the win.
 
Brayden Parker was the Bengals' leading scorer tonight as he finished with 26 points on a career-high 12 made baskets in 17 attempts from the field, two assists, two rebounds, one block, and one steal. Brock Mackenzie put up 12 points, six assists, and two rebounds and Miguel Tomley added 10 points, four rebounds, and five assists. Jay Nagle also chipped in with had nine points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
 
The Bengals finished the game shooting 52.5 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from deep making 5-of-15 shots from beyond the arc. The Bengals tallied 21 assists, 30 rebounds, and 7 steals. Portland State finished the game shooting 56.6 percent from the field and 47.1 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 11^th in the Big Sky in three-pointers made (50) and 13^th in the Big Sky three-pointers per game (1.85)
• Miguel Tomley is currently 13^th in the Big Sky in three-pointers made (48) and 14^th in three-pointers made per game (1.84)
• Brayden Parker is 6^th in the Big Sky in total blocks (23) and blocks per game (0.9)
• The Bengals' defense is currently 3^rd in the Big Sky and 99^th in the country in three-point percentage defense, holding opponents to just 32.3 percent from deep this season
• The Bengals' defense ranks 3^rd in the Big Sky in steals per game (6)