Bengals Prepare for Montana Road Trip

POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team makes their annual road trip to the Montana's this week, heading off to Missoula, MT for a date with the Montana Griz on Thursday, Feb. 13^th at 7 P.M. Followed by a trip to Bozeman, MT to take on the Montana State Bobcats on Saturday, Feb. 15^th at 6 P.M.

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

University of Montana (17-8) (10-2)
Home (12-1), Away (5-7), Neutral (0-0)
ISU Recent Series vs. UM
1/18/2025     H         W         86-61
3/12/2024     N         L          58-72
3/4/2024        A         L          65-79
12/30/2023   H         L          68-76
3/6/2023        N         L          74-83
 
Idaho State is 47-116 All-Time vs. Montana and 13-69 when playing on the road. Montana brings in a 17-8 overall record on the season and 10-2 in conference play. UM has rattled off 6-straight wins, the last time the Griz tasted defeat was against Idaho State.
 
The Bengals defeated the Griz by 25 last time out, the 4^th largest margin of victory ever for Idaho State over Montana, and ending a 7-game losing skid to UM. ISU looks to complete their first season sweep of Montana since the 2000-01 season (24 years). This may be a tough task for the Bengals, as they have not won in Missoula since 2008-09, losing their last 14 in a row in Dahlberg Arena.
 
UM is lead in scoring by Malik Moore (13.4), Money Williams (12.8), Joe Pridgen (12.0), and Kai Johnson (10.9). Joe Pridgen leads the team in rebounding, averaging 7.0 boards per game.
 
Montana State University (10-15) (5-7)
Home (8-2), Away (2-13), Neutral (0-0)
ISU Recent Series vs. MSU
1/16/2025     H         W         70-67
1/22/2024     A         L          70-77
12/28/2023   H         L          66-74
2/11/2023     H         L          52-58
1/12/2023     A         L          68-81
 
The Bengals are 87-110 All-Time vs. Montana State and 28-72 when playing on the road. The Bobcats bring in a 10-15 overall record on the season, and 5-7 record in Big Sky play. Montana State has lost their last two in a row, falling to both Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona on the road last week.
 
Idaho State downed MSU last time out, 70-67. Ending the Bobcats' 11-game winning streak over ISU. The Bengals look for their first season sweep of Montana State since the 2008-09 season (16 seasons). Idaho State must first earn the victory at Worthington Arena, something they have not done since 2018.
 
MSU is lead in scoring this year by Brandon Walker (14.7) and Max Agbonkpolo (10.7). Both Walker (4.9) and Agbonkpolo (4.7) lead the team in rebounds per game as well.
 
Weber State Recap
The Bengals would come out of the gates strong, taking the lead early and growing their lead to double digits, 27-16, following an Isaiah Griffin layup off a beautiful inbounds play with 8:38 remaining in the half. The Wildcats would respond by going on a 7-2 run, cutting the Bengals' lead to just five, 29-24, with 4:08 to play in the half. The Bengals would head into the locker rooms with the 37-31 advantage.

To begin the second half both teams would battle closely, Weber State would cut Idaho State's lead down to just one, 44-43, with 13:29 to play. Idaho State would fend the Wildcats off until they would reclaim their first lead since the score was 6-5, at 55-53 with 9:34 to play. Dylan Darling responded immediately for ISU, drilling a triple to give the lead back to the Bengals, 56-55, however once again Weber would answer, drilling the two-point jump shot to regain the lead 57-56. The Bengals and Wildcats would exchange buckets when Dylan Darling would drain two huge free-throws', extending their lead to three points, 66-63 with 1:29 remaining in the ballgame. Weber State answered with a big alley-oop jam, cutting the lead back down to one, 66-65. The ensuing possession Connor Hollenbeck would draw the foul, and in the one-and-one situation he would hit them both, giving the Bengals a three-point lead yet again. With the clock winding down on the Wildcats they would force a layup attempt that Evan Otten would block, and after drawing the foul Dylan Darling would miss the front end of the one-and-one, and Weber State race to the other end and finish the layup.

With the lead back down to one and under 10 seconds on the clock, the Bengals knew they needed to make their next two free-throw attempts. Dylan Darling stepped up to the stripe and did just that, knocking both attempts down. ISU now with a 70-67 lead and just 7.1 ticks on the game clock left. Weber State would inbound under their own basket, and the Bengals would foul two times in a row, on purpose, to send the Wildcats to the line in the one-and-one opportunity. With 5.3 remaining WSU miss the front end, and Evan Otten would snare the rebound, getting fouled almost immediately and he would head to the free-throw for two shots. Otten would calmly drain both, and clinch the win for Idaho State, 72-67.

Idaho State will improve to 11-11 overall, and 6-5 in Big Sky play, tying them for 3^rd in the conference standings with Portland State. Weber State will fall to 9-16 overall & 3-8 in Big Sky Conference play.

Dylan Darling led the game in scoring, finishing with a new career high, 30 points, on 9-16 shooting from the field and 3-9 from deep, four rebounds, three assists, and tying his career high with four steals. Jake O'Neil put up 14 points on 6-10 shooting from the field, seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Connor Hollenbeck would be the final Bengal in starter in double figures for scoring, tallying 10 points on 3-6 shooting from the floor, seven big rebounds, and one assist. Evan Otten and Isaiah Griffin would be the other two starters for Idaho State, Otten totaling six points, six rebounds, one block, and one steal, and Griffin would put up four points, four rebounds, one assist, and one steal.

Jackson Greene would play 17 minutes off the bench for ISU, ending his night with six points on a perfect 3-3 shooting from the field three rebounds, and one steal. The final Bengal player to get into the scoring book was Blake Daberkow, totaling two points and two rebounds. AJ Burgin would contribute with one rebound, one assist, and one steal in 12 minutes of action.

The Bengals finished the game shooting 43.3 percent from the field, and 22.7% from deep, finishing just 5-22 from three-point land. Idaho State ended the game with 35 rebounds, 9 assists, and 9 steals.

Weber State finished the game shooting 52.9 percent from the field and 58.3 percent from three-point territory, going 7-12. The Wildcats would finish with 10 assists, 27 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

• The Bengals rank 1^st in the Big Sky in:
  • Free Throw Attempts Per Game (20.6) & Free Throw's Made Per Game (15.2)
  • Rebound Margin (+9.7) (5^th in NCAA), Offensive Rebounds Per Game (14.45) (7^th in NCAA)
  • Scoring Defense, holding opponents to just 69.2 Points per Game
• Idaho State is 2^nd in the Big Sky in Rebounds Per Game (38.77) (37^th in the Country)
• The Bengals are 2^nd in the Big Sky in Blocks Per Game (5.0) (26^th in the Country)
• Jake O'Neil recorded his 12^th double-double of the season (21 points & 10 rebounds) in Idaho State's loss vs. Northern Colorado on Feb. 3^rd  (2^nd in the Big Sky & 9^th in the NCAA in Double-Doubles)
• Jake O'Neil has been a beast on the glass this season, ranking:
  • 1^st in the Big Sky and 7^th in the Country in Offensive Rebounds Per Game (3.86)
  • 2^nd in the Big Sky and 11^th in the Country in Rebounds Per Game (10.3)
  • 2^nd the Big Sky and is 21^st in the Country in Total Rebounds (226)
• Evan Otten ranks 5^th in the Big Sky in Offensive Rebounds Per Game (2.27)
• Evan Otten leads the Big Sky in Blocks and Blocks per Game, Otten ranks 12^th in the entire Country in Total Blocks (53) and is 10^th in the Country in Blocks per Game (2.41)
• The Bengals have 3 players inside the Top-23 in the Big Sky in Points Per Game:
  • Dylan Darling – 3^rd (18.3)
  • Jake O'Neil – 13^th (13.3)
  • Isaiah Griffin – 23^rd (11.2)
• Dylan Darling is 3^rd in the Big Sky in Assists (114) and 2^nd in the BSC and 35^th in the Nation in Assists per Game (5.7)
• In Conference play, Dylan Darling leads the Big Sky in Scoring (22.3 PPG) and is 2^nd in Assists (5.7)
• In conference play, Dylan Darling leads the Big Sky in Steals (1.7), Jake O'Neil is 6^th (1.4)
• Evan Otten now ranks 5^th All-Time in a Single Season in Blocks at Idaho State (53)
• Head Coach, Ryan Looney, sits at 394 career wins, needing just 6 more to reach #400
• Following ISU's win at Weber State last Saturday, HC Looney is now 4-0 in Dee Events Center, and has won 3 in a row in Ogden, the Bengals longest All-Time win streak at Weber State
• Ryan Looney has won 26.7% of ISU's All-Time wins at Weber State (ISU's 1^st game @ WSU was during the 1926-27 season)

 
Looking Ahead
Following the Bengals' games against Montana State & Montana they will host the Portland State Vikings on Thursday, Feb. 20^th and the Sacramento State Hornets on Saturday, Feb. 22^nd as the Bengals 2024-25 home season begins to wind down. Following their games against the Vikings & Hornets, Idaho State will have just one remaining home game for the season, Senior Day, on Monday, March 3^rd vs. Northern Arizona.
 
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)