Idaho State Looks to Snap 2 Game Skid with Home Games vs. Vikings & Hornets

POCATELLO, Idaho- The Bengals men's basketball team hosts Portland State and Sacramento State this week. This marks the second meeting for Idaho State with both schools, the Bengals dropping both matchups on the road earlier this season.

ISU's game vs. Portland State will be Thursday, Feb. 20^th at 7 P.M. and their game versus Sacramento State will be Saturday, Feb. 22^nd 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.

Portland State University (16-10) (8-5)
Home (10-1), Away (5-8), Neutral (1-1)
ISU Recent Series vs. PSU
1/25/2025     A         L          76-59
2/10/2024     H         W         68-65
1/11/2024     A         W         69-63
2/16/2023     A         L          70-79
1/21/2023     H         L          65-72
 
Idaho State is 24-38 All-Time vs. Portland State and 16-13 when playing in Reed Gym. Idaho State fell to the Vikings in Portland earlier this season, 59-76, and the Vikings have defeated the Bengals in 10 of their last 13 meetings.
 
PSU brings in an 16-10 overall record on the season and 8-5 in conference play, with wins over Wofford, San Diego, and Northern Colorado.
 
Portland State is led in scoring by Jaylin Henderson (14.0), Terri Miller Jr. (11.2), Isaiah Johnson (11.1), and Qiant Myers (10.2). Tre-Vaughn Minott leads the team in rebounding, averaging 7.5 boards per game, followed by Isaiah Johnson (5.3), and Terri Miller Jr. (5.0). The Vikings also hold the top assist man in the Big Sky, Qiant Myers, averaging 6.3 per game.
 
Sacramento State (6-20) (2-11)
Home (5-9), Away (1-11), Neutral (0-0)
ISU Recent Series vs. SS
1/23/2025                 A         L          75-71
2/8/2024                    H         W         68-40
1/13/2024                 A         L          64-66
2/18/2023                 A         L          65-70
1/19/2023                 H         W         65-61
 
Idaho State is 33-28 All-Time vs. Sacramento State and 18-12 when playing at home. Sacramento State took the win in the two teams' earlier meeting this season, and the Hornets have defeated the Bengals in 9 of their last 12 meetings.
 
Sac brings in a 6-20 overall record on the season and 2-11 in conference play, with wins over Air Force, Portland State, and Idaho State.
 
Sac State is lead in scoring by Jacob Holt (15.7) and Julian Vaughns (11.4). Jacob Holt leads the team in rebounding, averaging 7.1 boards per game, followed by Alex Kovatchev (5).
 
Montana State Recap
The Bengals would dig themselves in a hole early, allowing the Bobcats to grow an early 14-3 lead in the first six minutes of play. MSU would stretch their lead to a game high, 14 points, 10-24, before Idaho State would close the gap all the way down to just three, 26-29, following a 16-5 run by the Bengals, capped off by four straight Evan Otten free-throw's. When the halftime buzzer sounded the Bengals would go into the locker rooms trailing Montana State by six, 30-36.

The Bengals and Bobcats would battle closely the entire second half. Idaho State would take their first lead since the score was 2-1, after a Dylan Darling step back three-pointer with 8:31 remaining in the game, giving ISU a 53-51lead. As the Bengals led 62-60 with 4:11 to play, Montana State would go on a 7-0 run, giving them a 62-67 advance with just 1:36 to play. The Bengals got within three of MSU, but no closer as the Bobcats would close the door on the Benglas in Worthington Arena, and ISU would face a 69-74 defeat.

Idaho State will fall to 11-13 overall, and 6-7 in Big Sky play. Montana State will improve to 12-15 overall & 7-7 in Big Sky Conference play.

Dylan Darling and Jake O'Neil led the Bengals in tonight's game, Darling finishing with his 6^th straight 20+ point game, totaling 27 points on 8-23 shooting from the field, 4-6 from deep, and 7-9 from the free-throw line, as well as four rebounds, four assists, and one steal. O'Neil put up 18 points on 8-15 shooting from the field, seven rebounds, three steals, and one assist. Connor Hollenbeck finished tonight with eight points on 3-7 shooting and five rebounds, and Evan Otten would end his evening with four points, three rebounds, and one assist. The final Bengal starter, Isaiah Griffin, would be held scoreless in this one shooting 0-3 from the field, but add two rebounds.

Off the bench AJ Burgin would see 26 minutes of playing time, his longest action of conference play, and contribute six points on 2-6 shooting from beyond the arc, tying his season high with six rebounds, and one assist, and Jackson Greene would play 20 minutes, ending his night with four points and six rebounds. Blake Daberkow would also add two points and three rebounds in 11 minutes.

The Bengals finished the game shooting 37.5 percent from the field, their 3rd game shooting under 40% from the field in their last four tries, while also shooting 42.1% from deep, going 8-19 from three-point land. Idaho State ended the game with 36 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals.

Montana State finished the game shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 28.0 percent from three-point territory, going 7-25. The Bobcats would finish with 26 boards, 7 steals, and 14 assists, the 4^th straight game Idaho State has allowed their opponents to record 10+ assists.

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 (20.5) & Free Throw's Made Per Game (15.2)
  • Rebound Margin (+9.2) (7^th in NCAA), Offensive Rebounds Per Game (14.46) (6^th in NCAA)
• The Bengals are 2^nd in the Big Sky in Scoring Defense, holding opposing teams to just 69.9 PPG
• Idaho State ranks 2^nd in the Conference in Rebounds per Game (38.5)
• ISU is 2^nd in the Big Sky in Blocks per Game (4.7)
• 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 & 10^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 10^th in the Country in Offensive Rebounds Per Game (3.67)
  • 2^nd in the Big Sky and 13^th in the Country in Rebounds Per Game (9.9)
  • 2^nd the Big Sky and is 25^th in the Country in Total Rebounds (237)
• Evan Otten ranks 5^th in the Big Sky in Offensive Rebounds Per Game (2.25)
• Evan Otten leads the Big Sky in Blocks and Blocks per Game, Otten ranks 17^th in the entire Country in Total Blocks (55) and is 14^th in the Country in Blocks per Game (2.29)
• The Bengals have 3 players inside the Top-21 in the Big Sky in Points Per Game:
  • Dylan Darling – 2^nd (19.3)
  • Jake O'Neil – 13^th (13.0)
  • Isaiah Griffin – 21^st (11.1)
• Dylan Darling is 3^rd in the Big Sky in Assists (122) and 2^nd in the BSC and 35^th in the Nation in Assists per Game (5.5)
• In Conference play, Dylan Darling leads the Big Sky in Scoring (23.5 PPG) and is 2^nd in Assists (5.5)
• In conference play, Dylan Darling leads the Big Sky in Steals (1.8), Jake O'Neil is T-2^nd (1.5)
• Evan Otten now ranks 5^th All-Time in a Single Season in Blocks at Idaho State (55), needing just 3 more to pass Steve Hays' 1976-77 season total (57) for 4^th in a Single Season
• Head Coach, Ryan Looney, sits at 394 career wins, needing just 6 more to reach #400
• 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 Idaho State's home games vs. Portland State & Sacramento State the Bengals will take the road for the final time during this year's regular season, traveling to Moscow, ID and Cheney, WA. On Thursday, Feb. 27^th the Bengals will play against the University of Idaho at 7 P.M. MT, and on Saturday, March 1^st they will play against the Eastern Washington Eagles at 3 P.M. MT.
 
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)