Bengals Return Home To Face Vandals

Pocatello, ID- The Bengals men's basketball team will be returning home for their final two home games of the season this week. Your Bengals will be taking on rivals the Idaho Vandals this Thursday, February, 23^rd at 7 p.m. The Bengals and Vandals faced each other earlier in the year on January 28^th in Moscow, Idaho where it was a slugfest till the very end. Idaho State came out victorious in overtime 95-91. Idaho State has won their last nine of ten meetings against the Vandals, including the last five in a row.

The University of Idaho enters the contest with a 10-18 on the season and 4-11 in conference play, losing to Northern Arizona in their latest matchup on Saturday. The Vandals are averaging 74.9 points per game on 47.9 percent shooting from the field (2^nd in the Big Sky), and 34 percent from beyond the arc.

The Bengals will look to slow the Vandals down behind their shut-down defense. Idaho State's defense has been holding opponents to just 32.2 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 7 p.m. in Reed Gym. Jerry Miller will call the game on KISU and Dylan Carder will call the game on ESPN +.

University of Idaho (10-18)
Home (5-9), Away (4-9), Neutral (1-0)
ISU Recent Series vs. UI
1/28/2023                 A                     W        95-91 (OT)
2/10/2022                 A                     W        79-70
1/15/2022                 H                     W        81-74
2/13/2021                 H                     W        64-58 (OT)
2/11/2021                 H                     W        69-43
3/7/2020                    A                     L          80-76
 
Sacramento State University Recap
The Bengals men's basketball team traveled to Sacramento, California Saturday evening where they found themselves in a matchup against the Sacramento State Hornets. The Bengals and Hornets battled all first half as they were knotted up in a close one early on. Thanks to a Kolby Lee layup late in the first half Idaho State found themselves winning the contest by one, 34-33, heading into the halftime break. The Bengals started the second half sluggish, allowing the Hornets to go on a 10-2 in the first five minutes. Sacramento State stretched their second half lead to 10 with just five minutes remaining in the game. However, the Bengals pulled out all the late game tricks and managed to go on their own 10-2 run and cut the Hornets lead to just two points with 26 seconds remaining. The Bengals were unable to capitalize on late game turnovers and wound up losing the contest in a nail biter 70-65. Following the loss, the Bengals fall to 9-19 on the season and 6-9 in conference play. The Sacramento State Hornets will bump up to 13-15 on the season and 6-9 in the Big Sky after the win.
 
Miguel Tomley was the Bengals top performer on the evening as he put up 16 points on 4-of-7 shooting from three-point territory, six rebounds, four assists, and one steal. Kolby Lee tied a season-high with 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, two rebounds, and one steal. Maleek Arington provided a great night off the bench as he put up 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field, three rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
 
The Bengals finished the game shooting 41.7 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from deep making 7-of-22 shots from beyond the arc. The Bengals tallied 13 assists, 29 rebounds, and 5 steals. Sacramento State finished the game shooting 44.4 percent from the field and 30 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        

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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

• Miguel Tomley is currently 9^th in the Big Sky in both three-pointers made (52) and three-pointers made per game (1.93)
• Brock Mackenzie is currently 13^th in the Big Sky in three-pointers made (50)
• Brayden Parker is 6^th in the Big Sky in total blocks (24) and blocks per game (0.89)
• The Bengals' defense is currently 3^rd in the Big Sky and 95^th in the country in three-point percentage defense, holding opponents to just 32.2 percent from deep this season
• The Bengals' defense ranks 3^rd in the Big Sky in steals per game (6)