POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State Men's Basketball opens its 99th season on Tuesday night when the Bengals host Park University (AZ) at Reed Gym. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m., you can watch the game on ESPN+ or listen along on KISU.
Head Coach Ryan Looney begins his seventh season at the helm and enters the year just two wins shy of 400 career victories. Under his leadership, Idaho State continues to emphasize disciplined defense, unselfish offense, and player development. This year's team combines proven experience with exciting new talent, led by captains Connor Hollenbeck and Jamison Guerra.
Returning Core
Graduate forward Connor Hollenbeck headlines Idaho State's returning group after starting all 30 games last season. Hollenbeck averaged 8.8 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 44.8 percent from the field, 40 percent from three, and 85.5 percent at the line — the eighth-best single-season free throw percentage in program history (minimum 50 made).
Evan Otten, the reigning Big Sky Freshman of the Year, led the conference in blocks per game (2.28) and ranked fourth on ISU's single-season list with 66 total rejections, helping anchor a defense that finished among the Big Sky's best.
Blake Daberkow adds depth in the post after averaging 3.6 points and 1.8 rebounds in 30 games, while Jaedyn Brown (Pullman, Wash.) returns as one of ISU's most reliable perimeter shooters, scoring 20 points against Walla Walla and 11 vs. Embry-Riddle last season.
Cheikh Sow (Thies, Senegal) provides athleticism and rebounding after redshirting last season, and Martin Kheil (Czech Republic) gives Idaho State another versatile option on the wing.
New Faces
A talented group of newcomers joins the Bengals this season, led by senior guard Gus Etchison, a transfer from Marian University who averaged 22.8 points and 3.9 assists per game in 2023–24 and recorded multiple 40-point games. A former Western Michigan guard, Etchison brings high-level scoring and experience at both the NAIA and Division I levels.
Graduate guard and team captain Jamison Guerra arrives from Oregon Tech, where he earned NAIA Third-Team All-America honors after leading the nation with 227 assists and averaging 12.1 points per game. Guerra also served as the Cascade Conference's representative to the NAIA Association of Student-Athletes, embodying leadership both on and off the court.
Lachlan Brewer, a sophomore transfer from Sacramento State, shot 45 percent from three last season and started 28 games as a true freshman. He joins fellow Australian Caleb Van De Griend, a graduate transfer from Minot State and 2024 Division II All-American who averaged 20.9 points and 13.1 rebounds per game while shooting 70.8 percent from the field.
Quin Patterson (UC San Diego) adds shooting depth after hitting 42.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Coach Looney Nearing 400 Wins
Looney enters the season with 398 career victories across stints at Seattle Pacific, Point Loma, and Idaho State. His teams have consistently been among their league leaders in defensive efficiency, rebounding, and ball movement. A win Tuesday would move him within one of the 400-win milestone.
Preseason Outlook
Idaho State was picked to finish 5th by the media and 8th by the coaches in the 2025–26 Big Sky Conference Preseason Polls. With leadership from Hollenbeck and Guerra, and new scoring punch from Etchison, Brewer, and Van De Griend, Idaho State aims to push into the upper half of the Big Sky standings during its historic 99th season.
Scouting Park University (AZ)
The Buccaneers opened their season with a 105–45 victory over West Coast Baptist on Oct. 29 in Mesa, Arizona.
Park shot 51.8 percent from the field and 38.2 percent from three, led by Tanner Pate (17 points, 5 assists), Toate Sika (16 points, 11 rebounds), and Tyson Banks (15 points). The Buccaneers dominated the boards 59–37, scored 42 points in the paint, and forced 19 turnovers while producing 21 points off takeaways.
Tuesday's game marks Idaho State's first-ever regular season matchup against Park.
How to Follow
-
When: Tuesday, Nov. 4 | 8 p.m.
-
Where: Reed Gym | Pocatello, Idaho
-
Watch: ESPN+
-
Listen: KISU
-
Live Stats: isubengals.com
Stay connected with Bengal Basketball all season long. Follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram for highlights, updates, and behind-the-scenes content.
