Idaho State Looks to Shake Off Losing Skid on Saturday vs Weber State

POCATELLO, Idaho - The Bengals men's basketball team will be back in action on Saturday, February 24th as they begin their final homestand of the season. Hosting the Weber State Wildcats at 6 pm in Reed Gym. The Bengals defeated the Wildcats in their previous matchup this season in Ogden. Dylan Carder will have the call on ESPN+ and Scott Gross will call the game on KISU.

Weber State (18-9)
Home (10-2), Away (7-5), Neutral (1-2)
ISU Recent Series vs. WSU
1/27/2024     A         W         74 – 64
2/4/2023        H         L          71 – 72 (2OT)
1/7/2023        A         W         67 – 57
1/20/2022     A         L          63 – 95
1/17/2022     H         L          61 – 78
 
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The Wildcats come into their game with Idaho State with a 18-9 overall record and 9-5 record in conference play. Weber State has won their last 6 games in a row, with their last loss coming at home against Idaho State on last Jan. 27^th.
 
University of Idaho Recap
The Vandals would break out to an early 5-0 lead over Idaho State, however, the Bengals would counter with an 8-0 run to take an 11-7 lead with 13:10 to play in the first half. After battling the entire rest of the half Miguel Tomley would hit a three-pointer to give ISU a 30-29 lead with 25 seconds left in the half, however, Idaho was able to respond with a three-pointer of their own with just four seconds on the clock, and would take a 32-30 lead over the Bengals into the halftime break.
 
Idaho State and the Vandals would go at it all second half, as it would come down to the very end. After two good free-throws by Maleek Arington to take a 53-52 lead, Idaho would make a layup to regain the lead, 54-53 with 1:44 to play. Both defenses would lock down late, as the Vandals sunk one more free-throw and both teams would be unable to score again, as Idaho would down the Bengals 55-53 in Moscow. After the loss, Idaho State falls to 11-16 overall and 6-8 in Big Sky play. Following the win, Idaho improves to 10-16 overall and 4-9 in Big Sky play.
 
Maleek Arington led the charge for the Bengals in this one, putting up a career-high of 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field, a career-high nine rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Brayden Parker would be the only other Bengals that finished in double figures for scoring, totaling 12 points and four rebounds. Miguel Tomley would finish with seven points, one rebounds, one assist, and tying a career-high in steal with three. Isaiah Griffin had five points and one rebound, and the final starter for Idaho State, Kiree Huie, would end the game with one point, six rebounds, one block, and one steal. Off the bench for Idaho State, AJ Burgin would put up nine points and six rebounds in 29 minutes of action and Briggs Ranstrom would total four rebounds, two blocks, and one assist in 23 minutes of play. Trent Johnson and Gavin Gilstrap would also see the floor in this one. Johnson finishing with two rebounds, one block, and one steal in nine minutes, and Gilstrap one rebound and one assist in four minutes.
 
Idaho State finished the game shooting 38.8 percent from the field, and 23.1 percent from three-point territory, going 3-of-13 from behind the arc. The Bengals tallied 5 assists, 38 rebounds, and 7 steals.
 
Idaho finished the game shooting 36.5 percent from the field and 27.8 percent from three-point land (5-for-18). The Vandals finished the game with 35 rebounds, 12 steals, and 9 assists.

The Returning 8
3          Maleek Arington       G         So.      6-3      200     Auburn, WA
10        Miguel Tomley         G         So.      6-3      200     Surrey, BC                
12        Turner Livingston     F          R-Fr.   6-4      195     Spokane, WA
13        AJ Burgin                   G         Jr.       6-3      205     San Diego, CA
14        Jordan Hansen         G         So.      6-6      215     Seattle, WA
20        Briggs Ranstrom      F          R-Fr.   6-6      205     Eagle, ID
25        Brayden Parker        C         Gr.       6-8      250     Preston, ID
44        Louis Stormark         C         R-So.  6-9      250     Alleroed, Denmark                          
 
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0          Kolton Mitchell         G         Fr.       6-1      175     Coeur d' Alene, ID   
4          Jaedyn Brown           G         Fr.       6-4      175     Pullman, WA            
5          Laolu Kalejaiye         G         Fr.       6-0      160     Los Angeles, CA      
15        Kiree Huie                  F          Jr.       6-9      220     Grayson, GA 
21        Isaiah Griffin             F          Jr.       6-6      210     Knightdale, NC                     
22        James Bodily            G         Fr.       6-3      200     Bancroft, ID              
30        Evan Otten                C         Fr.       6-11    220     Redmond, OR
31        Trent Johnson          F          Jr.       6-7      205     Cambridge, ON        
32        Gavin Gilstrap           C         Jr.       6-11    270     Spokane, WA
 
Bengal Bites

• Brayden Parker is now 4^th on the ISU career Blocks list with 111, passing Jeff Cook after recording 5 blocks in the Bengals game vs Eastern Washington on Jan. 20^th
• Brayden Parker became the 25^th player in Idaho State history to reach the 1,000-career point mark after dropping 24 points in the Bengals' game vs Montana on Dec. 30^th
• Parker moved into 13^th place on the ISU All-Time Scoring list with 1,225 career points. Passing Amorrow Morgan (1,221) and Ron Boone (1,221) after recording 12 points at Idaho on Feb. 17^th
• Brayden Parker is 3^rd in the Big Sky in Field Goal Percentage, making 53.4% of his shots (71^st in the country)
• Brayden Parker is 3^rd in the Big Sky in Blocks (37) & 4^th BPG (1.37)
• Kiree Huie is 5^th in the Big Sky in Blocks (33) & BPG (1.22)
• Kiree Huie is 5^th in the Big Sky in Offensive Rebounds Per Game (2.11)
• Maleek Arington is 2^nd in the Big Sky and 43^rd in the nation in Assists (132) & 3^rd in APG (4.9)
• Maleek Arington is 2^nd in the Big Sky in Steals with 58 (18^th in the nation) & 2^nd in the Big Sky in SPG with 2.15 (35^th in the country)
• After Maleek Arington's 50-minute game at Northern Colorado he is now 2^nd in the Big Sky and 21^st in the nation in Minutes Per Game (36:09)
• Maleek Arington is 5^th in the Big Sky in Assist/Turnover Ratio (2.03)
• Miguel Tomley 2^nd in the Big Sky in 3-Point FGM (62) & 3^rd in 3-Point FGM Per Game (2.30)
• ISU has had a big defensive presence down low, averaging 3.6 blocks per game (2^nd in the Big Sky)
• Idaho State has been stingy on defense, plucking 6.9 steals per game (2^nd in the Big Sky)
• The Bengals defense is only allowing 68.9 PPG to opposing teams (2^nd in the Big Sky)

Looking Ahead
Following their game against Weber State the Bengals will host their final two home games of the season. As Northern Arizona comes to Pocatello on Leap Day, Thursday, February 29^th, at 7 pm. And Northern Colorado will visit Idaho State on Saturday, March 2^nd at 6 pm for ISU's home finale and senior day.

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)