Bengals Look To Keep Momentum Rolling In Season Finale

Pocatello, ID- The Idaho State men's basketball team will be taking the floor for the final game of the 2022-23 regular season Monday evening as they go to Greeley, Colorado to take on the University of Northern Colorado Bears. The Bengals and Bears faced each other previously this season on New Year's Eve, December 31^stin Pocatello, where the Bengals downed the Bears in overtime 91-83.

The University of Northern Colorado enters the game with a 10-19 record on the year, riding a three-game losing streak, falling by 3 points or less in each game. The eagles are 5-12 in conference play, losing to Northern Arizona in their latest matchup on Saturday. The Bears are averaging 72.8 points per game on 44.6 percent shooting from the field, and 36 percent from beyond the arc (2^nd in the Big Sky).

The Bengals will look to stymie the Bears behind their stellar defense this season. Idaho State's defense has been holding opponents to just 32.4 percent from three-point land (3^rd in the Big Sky), 44.4 percent shooting from the field (3^rd in the Big Sky), and average 5.9 steals per game.

The tip will be at 6 p.m. in the Bank of Colorado Arena in Greeley, Colorado and Jerry Miller will call the game on KISU.

University of Northern Colorado (10-19)
Home (5-7), Away (3-12), Neutral (2-0)
ISU Recent Series vs. UNC
12/31/2022         A               W        90-83 (OT)
2/21/2022           A               L          77-70
2/17/2022           H               W        61-58
12/23/2020         A               W        71-56
12/22/2020         A               L          69-64
2/22/2020           H               L          85-72
1/30/2020           A               L          83-67
 
Eastern Washington University Recap
The Bengals men's basketball team took on arguably the hottest team in America Saturday night in Eastern Washington University. The Bengals came out firing on all cylinders as they stormed to an early 11-point lead in the game. The Eagles kept their cool as they responded soundly, taking the lead late in the first half, however thanks to a Brock Mackenzie steal and Daxton Carr buzzer beater the Bengals went into the halftime break leading the Eagles by three, 39-36. The second half proved to be a defensive feat as both teams remained at a stalemate, tied at 56 for over five minutes including over 20 consecutive defensive stands by both teams. Idaho State was able to take a late six-point lead behind the free-throw making abilities of Brock Mackenzie and Maleek Arington, and closed the game out winning by eight in Pocatello, 71-63. After the win, the Bengals jump up to 11-19 on the season and 8-9 in conference play. The Eastern Washington University Eagles lose their first game of conference play and have their 18-game winning streak spoiled by your Idaho State Bengals as they will fall to 22-8 on the season and 16-1 in conference play, tasting defeat for the first time since December 17th.
 
Brock Mackenzie was the Bengals leading scorer on the evening as he finished with 28 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field and 6-of-9 from three-point land, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Maleek Aringotn came up huge for Idaho State off the bench tonight, totaling 10 points including going 7-of-10 from the stripe, four rebounds, and four steals. Austin Smellie finished the game with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field, six rebounds, and three assists. Brayden Parker put up four points, three rebounds, two blocks, and two assists. Kolby Lee also chipped in on the night with six points, two rebounds, two assists, and one block.
 
The Bengals finished the game shooting 41.8 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from deep making 10-of-28 shots from three-point territory. The Bengals tallied 15 assists, 33 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 7 steals. Eastern Washington University finished the game shooting 40 percent from the field and 35.5 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 8^th in the Big Sky in three-pointers made (58) and 9^th in three-pointers made per game (1.93)
• Miguel Tomley is currently 12^th in the Big Sky in both three-pointers made (54) and three-pointers made per game (1.86)
• Brayden Parker is 5^th in the Big Sky in total blocks (28) and blocks per game (0.97)
• Maleek Arington is 4^th in the Big Sky in steals (36)
• 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 32.4 percent from deep this season
• Austin Smellie has appeared in the most games (141) and has played the greatest number of minutes in a career (3,682) in Idaho State men's basketball history.
• The Idaho State men's basketball team currently concedes the highest percentage of free-throws being made in the entire 363 NCAA teams ranked. (79.4%)
• The Bengals held Big Sky leaders, Eastern Washington, to just 63 points scored, their lowest since the Eagles' 50-48 win at California on December 7^th.