Bengals Set For Tournament Showdown With Griz

Pocatello, ID- The Idaho State men's basketball team has wrapped up their regular season play and now moves their sights to the Big Sky Conference tournament in Boise, Idaho. The Bengals finished 11-20 on the season and 8-10 in Big Sky play, good enough to finish 5^th in the Big Sky standings for the regular season, surpassing everyone's expectations after being picked dead last in the conference's media and coach's pre-season polls. With the 5^th seed Idaho State earns a first round bye but, will be taking on the 4^th seeded University of Montana Griz in the second round. In the Bengals and Griz's two games this season Montana has given the Bengals fits, ousting them by 29 in Missoula and winning by 10 in Pocatello. Historically the Bengals have their backs against a wall, as they have only defeated the University of Montana just one time in the last 25 contests. The one win coming in February of last season as the Bengals won at home 86-63.

The University of Montana enters the tournament with a record of 16-13 on the season and 10-7 in Big Sky conference play, defeating Sacramento State and the University of Idaho to end the regular season this past weekend. The Griz average 68.7 points per game on 45.8 percent shooting from the field, and 37.6 percent from beyond the arc (1^st in the Big Sky).

The Bengals will look to stymie the Griz behind their stellar defense this season. Idaho State's defense has been holding opponents to just 32.3 percent from three-point land (2^nd in the Big Sky), 44.7 percent shooting from the field, and average 5.8 steals per game.

The tip will be at 5:30 p.m. in the Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho and Jerry Miller will call the game on KISU.

University of Montana (16-13)
Home (9-4), Away (6-9), Neutral (1-0)
ISU Recent Series vs. UM
2/9/2023                    H                     L          69-61
1/14/2023                 A                     L          84-55
2/7/2022                    H                     L          72-54
2/5/2022                    H                     W        86-63
12/30/2021               A                     L          78-54
2/27/2021                 H                     L          59-58
2/25/2021                 H                     L          64-58
 
University of Northern Colorado Recap
Idaho State men's basketball team traveled to Greeley, Colorado for their final game of the season as they went up against the University of Northern Colorado Bears. The Bengals and Bears battled in a tight first half as neither team led the other by more than six points. The Bengals were able to ride a 7-0 run before the end of the half and take a one-point lead at halftime 39-38. In the second half the Bengals came out sluggish, giving up nine straight points to the Bears to start the half to give them a 47-39 lead over the Bengals just five minutes into the second half. However, the Bengals kept their cool and responded well, raveling off 12 straight points to cut the Bears lead down to just one point with six minutes left in the game. However, this was the closest the Bengals would get as the Bears ended the game on a 19-5 run and downed the Bengals 87-72. After the loss, the Bengals fall up to 11-20 on the season and 8-10 in conference play. The University of Northern Colorado Bears will jump to 11-19 on the season and 6-12 in conference play.
 
Miguel Tomley was the Bengals leading scorer on the night as he finished with 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field and 4-of-8 from three-point land, two rebounds, and three assists. Brayden Parker finished the game with 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, and one block while we also saw fellow Preston, Idaho native Austin Smellie put up 10 points and three assists. Maleek Arington and Kolby Lee both had good games off the bench for Idaho State tonight as Maleek Arington tallied eight points, four rebounds, and two assists and Kolby Lee added four point, five rebounds, and one block. AJ Burgin also came in off the bench and wreaked some havoc, as he had two points, five rebounds, and two steals.
 
The Bengals finished the game shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from deep making 6-of-21 shots from three-point territory. The Bengals tallied 13 assists, 35 rebounds, and 4 blocks. The University of Northern Colorado finished the game shooting 55.2 percent from the field and 27.8 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

• Brock Mackenzie is currently 9^th in the Big Sky in three-pointers made (59) and 11^th in three-pointers made per game (1.90)
• Miguel Tomley is currently 10^th in the Big Sky in both three-pointers made (58) and three-pointers made per game (1.93)
• Brayden Parker is 5^th in the Big Sky in total blocks (29) and blocks per game (0.97)
• Maleek Arington is 4^th in the Big Sky in steals (36)
• The Bengals' defense is currently 2^nd in the Big Sky and 94^th in the country in three-point percentage defense, holding opponents to just 32.3 percent from deep this season
• Austin Smellie holds the Idaho State men's basketball all-time records for most games played (142) and total minutes played in a career (3,712)
• The Idaho State men's basketball team currently concedes the highest percentage of free-throws being made in the entire 363 NCAA teams ranked. (79.2%)