Bengals Look to Do What No Other Big Sky Team has Done in the Last 3 Seasons, Defeat Montana State in the Postseason

POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team heads to Boise this weekend to compete in the annual Big Sky Conference Tournament. The winner earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament later this month. The Bengals enter the Big Sky Tournament with a 15-14 overall record and a 10-8 conference record, their best record in Big Sky play since the 2015-16 season, and with the 4^th seed, their highest since the 2020-21 season. ISU looks to do something no other Big Sky team has been able to do in the last 3 seasons, defeat Montana State in the postseason. ISU draws the #5 seeded Montana State Bobcats in the 3^rd round of the tournament on Monday, March 10^th at 5:30 P.M. at Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho.

The Bengals 3^rd round game will be streamed on ESPN+, you can listen along live with Scott Gross on KISU, or you can follow along with LiveStats.

Montana State University (14-17) (9-9)
Home (11-3), Away (3-14), Neutral (0-0)
ISU Recent Series vs. MSU
2/15/2025     A         L          74-69
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
 
When playing the Bobcats, the Bengals are 87-111 All-Time, 0-2 in neutral site games, and 1-1 in the Big Sky Tournament. The Bengals defeated MSU in the 1976-77 tournament, however, the Bobcats would defeat ISU in the 2020-21 tournament.
 
The Bobcats bring in a 14-17 overall record on the season, and 9-9 record in Big Sky play. Montana State turned things around prior to March, finishing the regular season 4-2 in their last 6 games.
 
Idaho State and MSU split their season series this year, however, Montana State got the better of the Bengals last time out, defeating ISU 74-69 in Bozeman. ISU has struggled against the Bobcats recently, winning just 1 of their last 13 meetings against Montana State.
 
MSU is lead in scoring this year by Brandon Walker (14.7), Max Agbonkpolo (10.2), and Patrick McMahon (10.0). Both Walker (4.9) and Agbonkpolo (4.3) lead the team in rebounds per game as well.
 
Northern Arizona Recap
The game opened with both teams playing each other closely, Idaho State would take their first lead of the game at 11-10, with 15:35 to play in the first half. ISU grew their lead to 27-21 with 9:39 remaining in the half. The Bengals and 'Jacks would each score in bunches to end the half, Idaho State would head into the locker rooms for the halftime break trailing the Lumberjacks, 42-44.
 
Idaho State and Northern Arizona would battle in a barn burner the entire second half, both teams trading blows like prize fighters. The second half would feature 17 lead changes and seven ties, however, in the end, Idaho State would fall just short 79-82.
Idaho State will fall to 15-14 overall, and 10-8 in Big Sky Conference play. Northern Arizona will improve to 17-14 overall & 8-10 in Big Sky play.
 
This marks the first season Idaho State has had 10 or more conference wins in a single season since 2015-16.
 
Following the Monday night slate of Big Sky games, the Bengals have locked up the 4th seed, their best regular season seeding for the Big Sky Tournament since the 2015-16 season. Idaho State will take on the 5th seeded Montana State Bobcats in the 2nd round of the Big Sky Tournament on Monday, March 10th.
 
Dylan Darling would end the game with a career high, 34 points, on 12-19 shooting and 4-9 from three-point land, six assists, five rebounds, and one block. Jake O'Neil added 14 points on 5-14 shooting, seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal, and Isaiah Griffin would tally nine points on 4-8 shooting, four rebounds, and two assists. Connor Hollenbeck put up seven points on 2-7 shooting, three rebounds, and one block, and the big man, Evan Otten, would end his evening with six points on 2-3 shooting, four rebounds, and two blocks.
 
Off the bench for Idaho State Jackson Greene would total five points on a perfect 2-2 shooting night to go along with one rebound and one steal in 16 minutes of action. Blake Daberkow added four points on 2-3 shooting, four rebounds, and one block in 14 minutes, and AJ Burgin would grab five rebounds and two steals in 14 minutes of play.

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 (+8.8) (7^th in NCAA), Rebounds Per Game (38.2), and Offensive Rebounds Per Game (14.0) (11^th in NCAA)
• ISU ranks 2^nd in the Conference in Scoring Defense, holding opponents to just 69.6 Points per Game
• The Bengals are 2^nd in the Big Sky in Blocks Per Game (4.6) (39^th in the Country)
• Idaho State ranks 2^nd in the Big Sky in Turnover Margin (+1.4) & 3^rd in the Big Sky in Turnovers Forced per Game (12.1)

• Jake O'Neil recorded his 13^th double-double of the season (15 points & 10 rebounds) in Idaho State's win vs. Sacramento State on Feb. 22^nd (2^nd in the Big Sky & 13^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 13^th in the Country in Offensive Rebounds Per Game (3.52)
  • 2^nd in the Big Sky and 21^st in the Country in Rebounds Per Game (9.3)
  • 2^nd the Big Sky and is 28^th in the Country in Total Rebounds (271)
• Evan Otten ranks 5^th in the Big Sky in Offensive Rebounds Per Game (2.1)
• Evan Otten leads the Big Sky in Blocks and Blocks per Game, Otten ranks 14^th in the entire Country in Total Blocks (66) and is 16^th in the Country in Blocks per Game (2.28)
• The Bengals have 3 players inside the Top-25 in the Big Sky in Points Per Game:
  • Dylan Darling – 3^rd (19.9) (23^rd in NCAA)
  • Jake O'Neil – 14^th (13.0)
  • Isaiah Griffin – 23^rd (10.9)
• Dylan Darling finished 5^th in the NCAA in Scoring during the month of February (193 Points)
• Dylan Darling is 2^nd in the Big Sky in Assists (158) and 2^nd in the BSC and 26^th in the Nation in Assists per Game (5.9)
• In Conference play, Dylan Darling led the Big Sky in Scoring (23.2 PPG), Assists (5.9), and Steals (1.9)

• Dylan Darling has become just the 3^rd ever Bengal to record 500+ points & 150+ assists in a single season, joining Ethan Telfair (2015-16) & Marquis Poole (2003-04)

• Darling has moved into 6^th All-Time in a single season in Assists now with 158 on the season
• Darling has become just the 27^th player in ISU history to score 500+ points in a single season. Darling currently is 17^th on the single season scoring list, with 538 points  

• Darling now sits at 156 made FT's this season, just 4 shy of tying Ron Boone's 1966-67 total of 160 for 10^th most made FT's by an ISU player in a single season
• Jake O'Neil has now recorded 271 total rebounds this season, marking him just 14 shy of tying Edison Hicks' 1971-72 season total of 285 for 10^th place in a single season in Bengal history
• Evan Otten now ranks 4^th All-Time in a Single Season in Blocks at Idaho State (66), passing Steve Hays' 1976-77 season total (57) after recording 3 blocks in the Bengals Feb. 20^th win over PSU
• AJ Burgin, has now appeared in 123 total games for the Orange & Black, sitting in 3^rd All-Time in Total Games Played at Idaho State Burgin is just one game away from tying Donn Holston for 2^nd All-Time at 124 games played.
• Head Coach, Ryan Looney, sits at 398 career wins, needing just 2 more to reach #400

 
Looking Ahead
The winner between #4 Idaho State and #5 Montana State will take on one of three teams. The winner between #9 Weber State and #10 Sacramento Sate will play #1 Northern Colorado. The winner of WSU/SAC vs. UNC will advance to play the winner of ISU vs. MSU in the semi-final round of the Big Sky Tournament.
 
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)