POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State Men's Basketball returns home to Reed Gym for a pivotal Big Sky Conference weekend, hosting Montana on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m., followed by Montana State on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 4 p.m.
The Bengals enter the week with a NET ranking of 231, while Montana sits at 182 and Montana State at 138 as conference positioning tightens entering the final stretch of league play.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Thursday vs. Montana
Tipoff: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Reed Gym – Pocatello, Idaho
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: KISU 91.1 FM – Scott Gross
Live Stats: isubengals.com
Saturday vs. Montana State
Tipoff: 4:00 p.m.
Location: Reed Gym – Pocatello, Idaho
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: KISU 91.1 FM – Scott Gross
Live Stats: isubengals.com
IDAHO STATE TEAM OVERVIEW
Idaho State continues to lean on interior presence and depth as defining elements of its identity. The Bengals lead the Big Sky in bench points per game (29.33) and in blocks per game (4.1). ISU also ranks top-4 in the league in free-throw attempts per game (21.6) and free throws made per game (16.1), while sitting inside the top-5 in fewest turnovers per game (11.1).
Evan Otten leads the Big Sky in total blocks (46) and blocks per game (1.70), ranking inside the top 50 nationally in both categories. Caleb Van De Griend leads the conference in double-doubles (7) and ranks 4th in total rebounds (175), while also sitting inside the top-20 in scoring (12.3 PPG).
Connor Hollenbeck ranks inside the top-10 in total points (368), free throws made (101), and free-throw percentage (81.5%). Jamison Guerra ranks 2nd in the Big Sky in assist/turnover ratio (2.59) and 5th in total assists (114). Martin Kheil ranks 3rd in total three-pointers made (62) and 4th in threes per game (2.48).
SCOUTING MONTANA
Montana enters Thursday's matchup with a NET ranking of 182 and one of the most efficient offensive teams in the conference. The Grizzlies lead the Big Sky in field-goal percentage (49.6%) and rank 2nd in effective field-goal percentage (.570). Defensively, Montana leads the conference in defensive rebounds per game (28.15) and ranks 3rd in scoring defense (73.3 PPG).
Money Williams leads the Big Sky in total points (510), free throws made (148), and free throw attempts (174), while ranking 2nd in scoring at 19.6 points per game. He also ranks 3rd in total assists (133) and assists per game (5.1), making him one of the league's most complete offensive players.
Te'Jon Sawyer leads the Big Sky in field-goal percentage (62.5%) and ranks top-5 in defensive rebounds per game. Tyler Thompson ranks 5th in total three-pointers made (58) and 6th in three-pointers per game (2.32).
Montana's offensive efficiency and rebounding presence make them one of the most statistically balanced teams in the league.
SERIES HISTORY – MONTANA
Montana leads the all-time series 118–47. Idaho State holds a 33–46 home record against the Grizzlies.
Recent Results:
1/24/2026 – A – L, 60–69
2/13/2025 – A – L, 81–68
1/18/2025 – H – W, 86–61
3/12/2024 – N – L, 72–58
3/4/2024 – A – L, 79–65
12/30/2023 – H – L, 76–68
SCOUTING MONTANA STATE
Montana State enters Saturday with a NET ranking of 138 and one of the most disciplined statistical profiles in the Big Sky. The Bobcats lead the conference in fewest turnovers per game (10.1) and turnover margin (+1.5). They also rank 1st in the Big Sky in fouls per game (15.9) and sit inside the top-3 in scoring margin.
Individually, Montana State is led by Jed Miller, who ranks top-10 in the Big Sky in scoring, and top-2 in 3PM & 3P%. The Bobcats also possess two other top-20 scorers in the Conferece, in Patrick McMahon & Davian Brown.
SERIES HISTORY – MONTANA STATE
Montana State leads the all-time series 113–87. Idaho State holds a 59–37 record at home against the Bobcats.
Recent Results:
1/22/2026 – A – L, 62–74
3/10/2025 – N – L, 80–60
2/15/2025 – A – L, 74–69
1/16/2025 – H – W, 70–67
1/22/2024 – A – L, 77–70
12/28/2023 – H – L, 74–66
BENGAL BITES
- Caleb Van De Griend is 11th in FGM (127), 4th in total rebounds (175), 7th in rebounds per game (6.5), 16th in total points (331), 19th in PPG (12.3), T-6th in Blocks (19), and is T-1st in double-doubles (7) (57th in NCAA)
- Connor Hollenbeck ranks 12th in the Big Sky in points per game (13.6), 10th in total points (368), T-17th in three-pointers made (41), T-18th in three-pointers per game (1.5), 8th in FT% (81.5%), 6th in FTM (101), 16th in Blocks (12), T-16th in steals (25), & 14th in Minutes per Game (30.6)
- Jamison Guerra is 2nd in the Big Sky in assist/turnover ratio (2.59) (70th in NCAA), 5th in total assists (114), 6th in assists per game (4.2), & 32nd in the Big Sky in PPG (9.7) (4th on team)
- Martin Kheil ranks 30th in the Big Sky in scoring (10.1 PPG), 4th in three-pointers per game (2.48), & 3rd in 3PM (62)
- Evan Otten leads the Big Sky in total blocks (46) and blocks per game (1.70), ranking 39th in total blocks & 49th in blocks per game in the NCAA
- Cheikh Sow T-21st in the Big Sky in total steals (23) & T-17th in Blocks (11)
- Idaho State leads the Big Sky in bench points per game (29.33) (41st in the NCAA) & blocks per game (4.2) (80th in NCAA), while ranking 2nd in Fouls per Game (17.1), & 3rd in the conference in Free-Throw Attempts per game (21.6), Free-Throw's Made per Game (16.1), and Offensive Rebounds per Game (10.85)
- Idaho State held CSUN to just 20.8% shooting from the floor in their Nov. 28th neutral site game, marking the lowest single game FG% the Bengal defense has ever held a D1 opponent to, and the 3rd lowest FG% in an NCAA game this season.
- Idaho State is 1/25 teams in the NCAA to have 7 different players lead the team in scoring in different games this season
- Evan Otten currently sits at 112 career blocks, just 3 shy of moving into 4th on the All-Time Blocks List
- Evan Otten now has 46 blocks on the season, putting in sole possession of 8th place on the Bengal Single-Season record books, passing Mike Williams' 1983-84 season. Evan just needs one more to tie Jeff Cook's 1977-78 & Brayden Parker's 2023-24 total of 47 for 6th.
- Evan Otten is averaging 1.70 blocks per game, which is on pace to be 6th in the ISU Single-Season record books.
