POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State delivered its most explosive offensive performance of the season Saturday afternoon inside Reed Gym, defeating the Denver Pioneers 93–79 behind 15 made three-pointers, the program's most in a game since hitting 16 against Idaho last season. The victory was Idaho State's first over Denver since the 1974–75 season, snapping a decades-long drought against the Pioneers. ISU's 93 points also marked its highest scoring output against a Division I opponent since posting 95 on Idaho on Jan. 28, 2023.
With the win, Idaho State improved to 6–4, marking its best 10-game start to a season since opening 7–3 in 2005–06.
Head Coach Ryan Looney said the Bengals' performance was their most complete offensive showing so far.
"I thought we played extremely well, especially on the offensive end," Looney said. "Some of that was our guys' ability to execute whatever we were in. And our point guard play tonight was exceptional."
The afternoon also delivered a wave of milestone individual performances:
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Martin Kheil scored a career-high 19 points and tied his career high with five made threes.
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Lachlan Brewer tied his career high with 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
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Gus Etchison tied his career high with 15 points and three made threes.
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Evan Otten recorded a season-high nine points with three blocks.
Kheil credited his teammates for creating his opportunities:
"My teammates were trusting me, so they kept passing me the ball," he said. "I'm here to shoot the ball from three — just let it go."
Brewer added that ISU's ball movement created the flow they needed.
"We got some good ball movement and good open looks," he said. "It felt good to see a few go through."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Idaho State opened with pace, purpose, and confidence, burying nine first-half threes and shooting 51.7 percent before halftime. Still, Denver hung close by winning early battles on the glass — ISU did not secure its first offensive rebound until the final minute of the half.
"They were making keeping us off the glass a priority," Looney said. "My message to our guys was just keep going. They only played seven guys — we would wear them down."
The Bengals responded immediately out of halftime, grabbing four offensive rebounds on the first possession and six in the opening two minutes, completely flipping the game's physicality. Brewer said the team knew it had to correct that area:
"Rebounding is our identity," he said. "We came out and really wanted to get that done."
The offensive surge followed quickly. Brewer drilled a transition three, Kheil struck twice from deep, and Etchison caught fire off the bench..
"As soon as Gus comes in, he can go crazy," Kheil said. "It lit a fire on our side."
Otten capped the run with a soft mid-range jumper at the shot-clock buzzer — a shot Looney described as "the oh crap… oh yeah moment," acknowledging it wasn't what was drawn up but it was exactly what ISU needed.
By the 10-minute mark, the Bengals' lead ballooned to double digits, and Brewer said the group locked into its late-game identity:
"We reminded ourselves we're tougher than the opponent. We do that every game. We just ran over them."
PLAYER STATS
Idaho State's starting five delivered one of its most balanced offensive efforts of the year.
Martin Kheil set a new career high with 19 points, going 5-of-9 from three and serving as the game's most dangerous perimeter shooter. Brewer tied his career high with 17 points, adding seven rebounds and standout defensive possessions. Looney praised his effort: "He was awesome — not just offensively, but defensively too."
Connor Hollenbeck added 13 points, six rebounds, two steals, and a block. Jamison Guerra tallied nine points and five assists with zero turnovers, controlling the offense with composure and pace. Evan Otten posted a season-high nine points with four rebounds and three blocks — his best offensive outing of the year.
And off the bench for the Bengals, Etchison tied his career high with 15 points, drilling all three of his attempts from beyond the arc and providing instant momentum. Looney said the Bengals nearly used a two–point guard lineup late because of how well Etchison played. Caleb Van De Griend added six points, six rebounds, and two blocks, while Cheikh Sow, Blake Daberkow, and Quin Patterson provided strong rotation minutes.
TEAM STATS
Idaho State shot 50.0 percent from the field (32–64) and 51.7 percent from three (15–29) — its most made threes in nearly a year. The Bengals overcame a slow rebounding start to win the boards 32–29, forced 14 turnovers, and scored 18 points off those turnovers. ISU added 30 paint points and 26 bench points.
Denver was held to 26.3 percent shooting from deep and just one made three in the second half.
Brewer emphasized how the rebounding turnaround changed the entire game:
"That was huge. That's why it was close early. Once we competed on the glass, we blew it open."
BENGAL BITES
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Idaho State's 15 made threes were its most since last season on Feb. 2, 2025 vs Idaho (16).
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ISU's 93 points were its most against a Division I opponent since Jan. 28, 2023 (95 vs Idaho).
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Idaho State defeated Denver for the first time since the 1974–75 season.
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ISU's 6–4 record marks its best 10-game start since beginning 7–3 in 2005–06.
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Kheil set a career-high with 19 points and tied his career high with five made threes.
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Brewer tied his career high with 17 points.
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Etchison tied his career highs with 15 points and three threes.
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Otten totaled a season-high nine points and three blocks.
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ISU shot 50 percent or higher against a Division 1 opponent for the first time this season.
NEXT UP
Idaho State will travel down to Orem, Utah next Wednesday as they look to defeat the Utah Valley Wolverines for the first time in almost two decades.
The game will be aired on ESPN+. You can listen along to the Voice of the Bengals, Scott Gross, for the game on KISU 91.1 FM.
SUPPORT THE BENGALS
Fans can purchase tickets at idahostate.evenue.net/list/Athl. The ISU Ticket Office can be reached at (208) 282-4093 or joyerin@isu.edu.
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