POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State men's basketball opens the 2026-27 regular season Monday, Nov. 2, traveling to Logan, Utah, to face Utah State at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT.
The Bengals enter the season with a significantly revamped roster, returning just two players from last season in Quin Patterson and Landen Birley. Idaho State will look to build its identity with a group of 14 newcomers as it begins its 100th year of men's basketball.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Idaho State opens the 2026-27 regular season at Utah State on Monday, Nov. 2, at 7:30 p.m. MT at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in Logan, Utah.
Watch: Youtube
Live Stats: isubengals.com
IDAHO STATE TEAM PREVIEW
Idaho State enters the 2026-27 season with one of the most revamped rosters in NCAA Division I basketball, returning just two players from last season's squad, Quin Patterson and Landen Birley. The Bengals return only 1.67% of their scoring, 1.6% of their rebounding, 1.27% of their assists and 3.67% of their minutes played from the 2025-26 campaign, making Idaho State one of just nine NCAA Division I programs returning those percentages or less across all four categories.
The Bengals' roster features 10 underclassmen and six upperclassmen, marking the program's fewest upperclassmen on a roster since at least 2010.
Despite the significant turnover, Idaho State welcomes a collection of newcomers with experience at the NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, junior college, international and high school levels.
Among the newcomers is Ike Palmer, who joins the Bengals after averaging 16.1 points per game at Utah State Eastern, while Malachi Johnson arrives after earning CCAA Freshman of the Year honors at Stanislaus State.
Head coach Ryan Looney enters his eighth season leading Idaho State after guiding the Bengals to a 13-20 overall record and a 5-13 mark in Big Sky Conference play last season. Under Looney, Idaho State has compiled an 81-131 overall record, including a 47-79 mark in Big Sky play and a 4-6 record at the Big Sky Conference Tournament.
The Bengals were selected to finish ninth in the 2026-27 Big Sky Conference Preseason Coaches' and Media Polls. Montana State was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the coaches' poll with 97 points and seven first-place votes, followed by Northern Colorado with 81 points and Eastern Washington with 79.
Idaho State opened its preseason schedule with an exhibition victory over Montana Western. The game provided the Bengals with an opportunity to test their new-look roster before beginning regular-season play.
SCOUTING UTAH STATE
Utah State enters Monday's regular-season opener against Idaho State after winning all three of its exhibition games. The Aggies opened exhibition play with an 86-76 win over Denver on Oct. 10, followed by a 97-89 road victory at Saint Mary's on Oct. 17. Utah State closed its preseason slate with a 101-79 win over Santa Clara on Oct. 24.
The Aggies showcased their depth in the exhibition opener against Denver, with all 12 players who saw action scoring. Senior guard Mason Falslev led Utah State with 18 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals in 25 minutes. Junior forward Will Hornseth added 13 points and nine rebounds, including four offensive boards, while the bench contributed 34 points.
Utah State continued its offensive production against Saint Mary's, winning 97-89 despite playing without Falslev, who missed the game with a lower-body injury. Sophomore Kingston Tosi led the Aggies with 22 points, six rebounds and three steals. Dallin Hall added 16 points and six assists, while Brayden Boe scored 15 points and Solomon Callaghan finished with 10. Utah State scored 52 points in the paint and turned 11 first-half Saint Mary's turnovers into 12 points.
Falslev returned against Santa Clara and led the Aggies with 25 points and seven rebounds in a 101-79 victory. Connor Turnbull added 16 points and eight rebounds as Utah State outrebounded the Broncos 46-35 and held a 46-34 advantage in points in the paint. The Aggies also forced 14 turnovers that led to 18 points and limited Santa Clara to 20.0 percent shooting from three-point range.
Utah State demonstrated its offensive production throughout the exhibition schedule, scoring at least 86 points in each game and reaching 100 points against Santa Clara. The Aggies also showed depth, with all 12 dressed players seeing action against the Broncos and the bench contributing 33 points.
The Aggies will look to carry their exhibition success into Monday's season opener against the Bengals.
SERIES HISTORY
Idaho State is 15-39 all-time against Utah State, including a 9-14 record at home, a 6-27 mark on the road and an 0-1 record at neutral sites. The Bengals have lost their last 17 meetings with the Aggies.
Utah State won the most recent meeting between the programs, defeating Idaho State 85-51 on Nov. 19, 2016, in Logan.
The last meeting in Pocatello came on Nov. 26, 2011, when Utah State earned a 75-62 victory at Idaho State.
BENGAL BITES
• The 2026-27 season marks the 100th year of Idaho State men's basketball.
• The Bengals return just two players from the 2025-26 roster, Quin Patterson and Landen Birley.
• Idaho State returns just 1.67% of its scoring, 1.6% of its rebounding, 1.27% of its assists and 3.67% of its minutes played from last season. The Bengals are one of just nine NCAA Division I programs returning those percentages or less in all four categories.
• The Bengals are one of just seven NCAA Division I programs with at least 10 underclassmen on their roster for the 2026-27 season.
• The Bengals welcome 14 newcomers for the 2026-27 season, replacing 87.5% of last year's roster.
• Idaho State's newcomers include two players from Division I programs, four from Division II, one from Division III, two junior college transfers, four high school recruits and one player from overseas.
• Assistant coach CJ Edwards was named one of Silver Waves Media's Top 100 Most Impactful and Influential Mid-Major Assistant Coaches on Oct. 19.
• Idaho State was picked ninth in both the Big Sky Conference Preseason Coaches' and Media Polls.
• The Bengals feature three new assistant coaches and one new graduate assistant for the 2026-27 season.
• With the Johnson brothers on the roster, Idaho State is one of 25 NCAA Division I programs featuring brothers on the same team and one of three Big Sky Conference programs, alongside Eastern Washington and Southern Utah.
NEXT UP
Following Monday's season opener at Utah State, Idaho State continues its early-season schedule with a road matchup against Wyoming on Nov. 6, followed by a trip to the Air Force Academy on Sunday, Nov. 8th, followed by Seattle U on Nov. 14. The Bengals return home to face South Dakota State on Friday, Nov. 20th at 2:00 P.M.
