Men's Hoops Opens Big Sky Play on the Road at Northern Arizona & Northern Colorado

POCATELLO, Idaho- The Bengals men's basketball team will take the court for the first time in 2025 and for their first look at Big Sky Conference opponents this season on Thursday, Jan. 2^nd in Flagstaff, Arizona taking on the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, and Saturday, Jan. 4^th in Greeley, Colorado going up against the Northern Colorado Bears. ISU draws the two top teams in the Big Sky coming out of non-conference play, the Lumberjacks sitting at a league-best 9-4, and Northern Colorado right behind them with a 8-5 overall record.

These games will be streamed on ESPN+, you can listen along live with Scott Gross on KISU, or you can follow along with LiveStats.

Last season the Bengals went 2-1 vs. NAU, defeating the Lumberjacks in the first-round of the Big Sky Tournament. Idaho State would go 1-2 last year vs. UNC, falling in 2OT in Greeley and by just 2 in Pocatello, however, the Bengals would be able to put it together against the Bears in the tournament, upsetting the 2^nd seeded Bears 83-76, to advance to ISU's first Big Sky Tournament semifinal appearance since 2009.

Northern Arizona University (9-4)
Home (6-0), Away (3-3), Neutral (0-1)
Northern Arizona is 9-4 on the season, with wins over Pacific, South Dakota, and Houston Christian.
 
NAU has 3 players averaging double figures in scoring, the Preseason Big Sky MVP, Trenton McLaughlin (23.3), Carson Towt (14.8), and Jayden Jackson (12.8). The Lumberjacks also hold the league-leader in rebounding, Carson Towt (12.2 RPG).
 
University of Northern Colorado (8-5)
Home (5-1), Away (2-4), Neutral (1-0)
Northern Colorado is 8-5 on the season, with wins over South Dakota State, Air Force, and Denver.
 
UNC has 3 players averaging double figures in scoring, Langston Reynolds (17.7), Isaiah Hawthorne (16.6), and Brock Wisne (10.2). The Bears also have 3 players averaging 5+ rebounds per game, Isaiah Hawthorne (5.6), Langston Reynolds (5.3), and Jaron Rillie (5.3).
 
 
Utah Valley Recap
The Bengals and Wolverines would battle closely all first half. Idaho State would jump out to an early 14-9 lead at the 11:50 mark, however, UVU would respond with a 13-3 run over the next four and a half minutes, taking a 22-17 advantage. The Wolverines stretched their lead to a first-half high, eight points, on two different occasions. But, the Bengals would cut into the lead before half, trailing by just four, 35-31, as both teams headed into the locker rooms for the halftime break.

In the second half Idaho State would open on a 7-0 run in the first two minutes, regaining the lead 38-35. For every punch the Bengals threw, Utah Valley would have an answer, as the Wolverines would surge to a seven-point lead at the 8:50 mark in the second half, 55-48. As ISU looked to make their late game run, they cut the lead down to just two points, 55-53, but UVU would close the game on a 15-3 run, running away with the win in Pocatello by a final score of 70-56. Idaho State will fall to 5-6 following the loss and Utah Valley improves to 6-6 after the win.

Idaho State had three players finishing in double figures for scoring tonight, Jake O'Neil led the way grabbing his 6^th double-double on the season as he had a team-high 21 points on 7-17 shooting from the field, 14 rebounds, one assist, and one block. Also in double figures for scoring were Isaiah Griffin and AJ Burgin. Griffin totaled 11 points on 4-9 shooting from the floor and four rebounds, while Burgin would tally 10 points on 4-8 shooting from the field and 2-4 from three-point territory, four assists, two rebounds, and one steal. The final two starters for Idaho State were Evan Otten and Connor Hollenbeck. Otten would total two points, five rebounds, four blocks, and two assists after fouling out in just 18 minutes of play, and Hollenbeck would end his night with four points, two rebounds, one assist, one block, and one steal. Off the bench Jackson Greene would see a season-high 28 minutes of action, making the most of his extended minutes as he would finish with five points, a season-high eight rebounds, and three blocks. Quentin Meza would be the final Bengal to get in the scoring column, recording three points in 12 minutes of play. Jaedyn Brown would tally one rebound and one assist in 10 minutes of playing time and Blake Daberkow would record one steal in nine minutes.

The Bengals finished the game shooting 35.2 percent from the field, and 28.6 percent from deep finishing 4-14 from three-point range. Idaho State ended the game with 39 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 steals.

Utah Valley finished the game shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 22.2 percent from three-point territory, going 4-18. The Wolverines would finish with 14 assists, 36 boards, and 5 steals.


The Returning 4
4          Jaedyn Brown           G         R-Fr.   6-4      185     Pullman, WA
12        Isaiah Griffin             F          Sr.       6-6      210     Knightdale, NC
13        AJ Burgin                   G         Sr.       6-3      205     San Diego, Calif.
30        Evan Otten                C         R-Fr.   6-11    235     Redmond, OR                       
 
Hello My Name Is
0          Joey Madimba          G         Jr.       6-5      205     Mansfield, TX          
1          Dylan Darling            G         R-So.  6-1      180     Spokane, WA            
2          Nick Ghetie               G         Fr.       5-11    175     Portland, OR 
3          Quentin Meza           G         So.      6-0      180     West Valley City, UT
5          Cheikh Sow               G         Jr.       6-7      195     Theis, Senegal                     
8          Jake O'Neil                G         Gr.       6-4      210     Fruitland, ID             
10        Connor Hollenbeck  F          Gr.       6-7      225     Rapid City, SD
14        Covy Kelly                 G         Jr.       6-2      182     Garden Valley, ID
21        Jackson Greene       F          Jr.       6-7      215     Atlanta, GA               
24        Justin Graham         F          Sr.       6-7      200     Colorado Springs, CO
32        Blake Daberkow       C         Jr.       6-10    235     Lincoln, NE 


 
Bengal Bites

• Jake O'Neil recorded his 6^th double-double of the season (21 points & 14 rebounds) in Idaho State's Dec. 18^th clash vs. Utah Valley (2^nd in the Big Sky & 12^th in the NCAA in Double-Doubles)
• Dylan Darling recorded his first career double-double (10 points & 10 assists) vs. Embry-Riddle on Nov. 25^th
• Evan Otten (11 points 10 rebounds) & Jaedyn Brown (20 points 10 rebounds) each recorded their first career double-double's vs. Walla Walla on Dec. 14^th
• Dylan Darling became the first ISU player since Brandon Boyd in 2018 to record 20+ points and 5+ assists in the same game in the Bengals' near upset of USC on Nov. 7^th
• Idaho State's 33 assists vs. Walla Walla is the 2^nd most assists in a single game in ISU team history
• The Bengals rank 1^st in the Big Sky in:
  • Field Goal Percentage Defense (40.4%) (63^rd in the NCAA)
  • Free Throw's Made Per Game (15.1)
  • Rebound Margin (+13.8) (1^st in NCAA), Offensive Rebounds Per Game (15.36) (6^th in NCAA), & Rebounds Per Game (41.9) (15^th in NCAA)
  • Scoring Defense (64.8) (39^th in NCAA)
• Idaho State is currently 2^nd in the Big Sky & 12^th in the Country in Blocks per Game (5.7)
• Jake O'Neil has been a beast on the glass. O'Neil ranks:
  • 1^st in the Big Sky and 10^th in the Country in Offensive Rebounds Per Game (3.82)
  • 2^nd in the Big Sky and 13^th in the Country in Rebounds Per Game (10.3)
  • 2^nd the Big Sky and is 34^th in the Country in Total Rebounds (113)
• Jake O'Neil's 19 rebounds vs. Oral Roberts is the most in a single-game in the Big Sky this season, and is the most in a single game for an ISU player since Jeff Solarin in 2014
• Evan Otten leads the Big Sky in Blocks and Blocks per Game, Otten ranks 9^th in the entire Country in Total Blocks (32) and is 4^th in the Country in Blocks per Game (2.91)
• Dylan Darling is 4^th in the Big Sky in Assists (51) and 2^nd in the BSC and 34^th in the Nation in Assists per Game (5.7)
• Dylan Darling is 2^nd in the Big Sky in Assist to Turnover Ratio (2.68)

 
Looking Ahead
Following the Bengals' Big Sky opening weekend of play on the road, they will return home for a three-game homestand. They will begin with their home conference opener vs. Weber State on Saturday, Jan. 11^th at 6 P.M., followed by ISU hosting Montana State on Thursday, Jan. 16^th at 7 P.M. and capped off with the Montana Griz coming to town on Saturday, Jan. 18^th at 6 P.M.
 
Follow the Bengals
Follow along at ISUBengals.com to keep up to date with the team. Fans can also follow the Bengals on social media  (Twitter: @IdahoStateMBB | Instagram:@Idahostatembb | Facebook:@IdahoStateMensBasketball)