COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – Idaho State men's basketball matched Air Force's up-tempo style in a high-scoring road battle Sunday afternoon, putting together their strongest offensive performance of the young season before the Fightin' Falcons pulled away for an 89-82 victory at Clune Arena.

With Air Force applying defensive pressure throughout the game, the Bengals were pushed into a fast-paced contest that featured six ties and seven lead changes. Idaho State carried a 42-41 advantage into halftime and continued to trade baskets with the Falcons throughout the second half, but Air Force made enough plays down the stretch to secure the win.

MaCarhy Morris led the Bengals with a season-high 22 points while playing in 39 of the game's 40 minutes. Malachi Johnson recorded the season's first double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Ike Palmer added a season-high 14 points off the bench.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Idaho State came out with energy on both ends of the floor, opening the scoring with a Nathan Amoran three-pointer following a Kenyon DeMuynck assist. Johnson helped establish the Bengals inside, collecting an offensive rebound and converting the putback before adding another layup to give ISU an early 7-4 advantage.

Morris connected from beyond the arc, and DeMuynck added a layup as the Bengals continued to trade baskets with the Falcons. Joven Dulay continued his hot start from deep this season, knocking down a fast-break three, while Eyal Harel and Amoran added baskets to keep the Bengals within striking distance.

Johnson continued to produce, adding a jumper and a three-pointer to help keep the contest even. Morris contributed a pair of baskets in transition and in the half court, while Palmer converted two free throws. Palmer then grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back with seven seconds remaining in the half, giving Idaho State a 42-39 lead. Air Force scored in the closing seconds, sending the teams into the break with the Bengals ahead 42-41.

Idaho State carried that momentum into the second half. Morris opened the period with a three-pointer, and Johnson followed with a layup to push the Bengal lead to 47-41. Harel added a jumper, and Palmer scored three consecutive baskets to help ISU maintain its advantage. Dulay connected on another three-pointer, and Morris added an offensive rebound and putback as the Bengals built a 60-53 lead, their largest lead of the game.

Air Force answered with a run of its own, going on a 13-3 run, taking a 66-63 advantage following a series of baskets and free throws.

DeMuynck scored inside, and Morris converted two free throws to keep the Bengals close down the strech. Air Force responded with consecutive baskets to build its advantage, but Morris and Palmer continued to provide offense as Idaho State worked to stay within reach.

The Falcons pushed their lead to as many as nine before a three-pointer from Elijah Garner cut the deficit to six. Johnson then scored at the free-throw line before grabbing an offensive rebound and converting a layup with 1:16 remaining, bringing Idaho State within five at 79-84.

The Bengals continued to battle in the final minute. Morris scored on a fast-break layup with six seconds remaining to make it 82-87, but Air Force added two free throws in the closing seconds to secure the 89-82 victory.

On his birthday, head coach Ryan Looney emphasized the importance of the experience for a young Bengal squad competing through a challenging early-season road schedule.

"I thought we competed. We are a young team and we are taking some lumps on the road early in the season. It doesn't get easier moving forward in November. These games will help prepare us for Big Sky play," Looney shared.

PLAYER STATS

Morris paced the Bengals with a season-high 22 points, shooting 6-of-13 from the field and 8-of-8 at the free-throw line, to go along with three assists and two rebounds. Morris played in 39 of the game's 40 minutes, proving to be the foundational pieces of the Bengals' early season offense.

Malachi Johnson finished with the Bengals' first double-double of 2026-27, totaling 21 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. He shot 7-of-13 from the field and added two assists in just 26 minutes of game time, limited in the 2nd half due to foul trouble.

Kenyon DeMuynck recorded four points and four rebounds while leading the Bengals with a game-high three blocks. Nathan Amoran added seven points, two steals and two rebounds, while the final Bengal starter, Ty Virgil, couldn't shake his early-season shooting slump, going 0-for-8 from the field and 0-for-7 from three-point range, while tacking on three rebounds and one assist in 22 minutes of action.

Off the bench, Ike Palmer contributed a season-high 14 points and seven rebounds, shooting 5-of-9 from the field while adding three assists. Eyal Harel finished with a game-high four assists to go with four points and three rebounds, and Joven Dulay scored six points on 2-for-7 shooting from beyond the arc, three rebounds, and one steal in 18 minutes played.

Eli Garner added four points and three rebounds in 11 minutes of playing time, while Malik Johnson, Quin Patterson, and Aden Goffe all saw playing time for the Bengals.

TEAM STATS

Idaho State shot 38.9 percent from the field (28-of-72), 23.3 percent from three-point range (7-of-30) and 76.0 percent at the free-throw line (19-of-25). Air Force shot 37.3 percent from the field (25-of-67), 20.0 percent from three (5-of-25) and 85.0 percent at the line (34-of-40).

Both teams finished with 46 rebounds. Idaho State recorded 16 assists, five steals and three blocks while committing 16 turnovers. Air Force finished with 10 assists, 11 steals and three blocks, with 11 turnovers.

BENGAL BITES

• Macarhy Morris led Idaho State for the 3rd straight game to open the season, with 22 points and played 39 of the game's 40 minutes

• Malachi Johnson recorded ISU's first double-double of the year, with 21 points and 12 rebounds

• Ike Palmer added a season-high 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench

NEXT UP

Idaho State caps off their four-game road trip to open the 2026-27 with a road game at Seattle U in Seattle, Washington. Ryan Looney looks to take on former Bengal guard, Maleek Arington, for the second straight year in Seattle. Tip-off between the Bengals & Redhawks is scheduled for 8 p.m. MT, and will be streamed on ESPN+. You can also follow along live with LiveStats or listen in with the Voice of the Bengals, Scott Gross, on KISU.