POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State Men's Basketball returns to Reed Gym on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. to host rivals, the Weber State Wildcats in the 2025-26 regular season home finale. The matchup also marks Senior Day for six Bengals: Blake Daberkow, Kasen Carpenter, Jamison Guerra, Connor Hollenbeck, Caleb Van De Griend, and Gus Etchison.
Idaho State enters the weekend with a NET ranking of 217, while Weber State sits at 195 nationally. The Bengals will look to close the home schedule with momentum against a rival they have split the last four meetings with.
HOW TO FOLLOW
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 depth scoring, interior defense, and rebounding control as the regular season winds down.
The Bengals lead the Big Sky in bench scoring at 30.93 points per game, ranking 23rd nationally. ISU also leads the conference in blocks per game at 4.2, ranking 68th in the NCAA. Idaho State ranks 3rd in the Big Sky in free throw attempts per game at 21.3 and 3rd in free throws made per game at 16.0, continuing to generate consistent production at the stripe.
Caleb Van De Griend ranks 2nd in the Big Sky in double-doubles with 7, 5th in total rebounds with 186, and 4th in offensive rebounds per game at 2.55. He is averaging 11.9 points per game and shooting over 55 percent from the field.
Connor Hollenbeck leads the Bengals in scoring at 13.2 points per game and ranks 7th in the Big Sky in free throw percentage at 81.4 percent.
Jamison Guerra ranks 3rd in the Big Sky and 91st nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.45 while ranking 5th in total assists with 115.
Evan Otten leads the Big Sky in both total blocks (51) and blocks per game (1.76), ranking inside the top 40 nationally in total blocks.
Martin Kheil ranks 4th in the Big Sky in three-pointers per game at 2.33 and continues to provide perimeter spacing within the Bengal rotation.
SCOUTING WEBER STATE
Weber State enters Saturday ranked 2nd in the Big Sky in scoring offense at 81.9 points per game, which ranks 61st nationally. The Wildcats lead the conference in rebounds per game at 37.41 and offensive rebounds per game at 11.86, while also ranking 2nd in rebound margin at +4.8. In transition, Weber State leads the Big Sky in fastbreak points at 14.55 per game, ranking 34th nationally. The Wildcats also rank 2nd in the conference in free throw attempts per game (23.2) and free throws made per game (17.0).
Individually, Tijan Saine Jr. ranks 8th in the Big Sky in scoring at 17.0 points per game and 6th in total points with 494. He also ranks 2nd in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.49) and 4th in total assists (127). Viljami Vartiainen leads the Big Sky in three-point percentage at 43.5 percent, ranking 11th nationally, and ranks 2nd in the conference in three-pointers per game at 2.91. Malek Gomma ranks 2nd in the Big Sky in total rebounds with 205 and 2nd in offensive rebounds per game at 3.07, while averaging 7.1 rebounds per game, 4th in the conference. Edwin Suarez Jr. ranks 7th in the Big Sky in steals with 36 and 7th in double-doubles with 3.
Weber State's statistical profile reflects a team that scores efficiently, rebounds at a high level, and plays through multiple offensive options.
SERIES HISTORY
Weber State leads the all-time series 87–57. Idaho State holds a 39–30 record at home, 15–53 on the road, and 3–4 in neutral-site meetings.
Recent Results:
1/31/2026 – A – L, 79–81
2/8/2025 – A – W, 72–67
1/11/2025 – H – L, 77–69
2/24/2024 – H – W, 80–62
1/27/2024 – A – W, 74–64
Idaho State is 4–2 in its last six meetings with the Wildcats.
SENIOR DAY SPOTLIGHT
Saturday marks the final home appearance in Reed Gym for:
Blake Daberkow
Kasen Carpenter
Jamison Guerra
Connor Hollenbeck
Caleb Van De Griend
Gus Etchison
This senior group has helped shape Idaho State's defensive identity and interior presence while anchoring one of the Big Sky's deepest rotations.
BENGAL BITES
- Caleb Van De Griend is T-14th in FGM (133), 5th in total rebounds (186), 7th in rebounds per game (6.4), 18th in total points (346), 21st in PPG (11.9), 7th in Blocks (20), and is 2nd in double-doubles (7) (66th in NCAA)
- Connor Hollenbeck ranks 14th in the Big Sky in points per game (13.2), 13th in total points (383), 18th in three-pointers made (42), T-19th in three-pointers per game (1.4), 7th in FT% (81.4%), 6th in FTM (105), T-18th in Blocks (12), T-17th in steals (26), & 17th in Minutes per Game (29.9)
- Jamison Guerra is 3rd in the Big Sky in assist/turnover ratio (2.45) (91st in NCAA), 5th in total assists (115), 8th in assists per game (4.0), & 36th in the Big Sky in PPG (9.3) (4th on team)
- Martin Kheil ranks 32nd in the Big Sky in scoring (9.8 PPG), 5th in three-pointers per game (2.33), & 4th in 3PM (63)
- Evan Otten leads the Big Sky in total blocks (51) and blocks per game (1.76), ranking 38th in total blocks & 43rd in blocks per game in the NCAA
- Cheikh Sow T-23rd in the Big Sky in total steals (23) & T-23rd in Blocks (11)
- Idaho State leads the Big Sky in bench points per game (30.93) (23rd in the NCAA) & blocks per game (4.2) (68th in NCAA), while ranking 2nd in Fouls per Game (17.2), & 3rd in the conference in Free-Throw Attempts per game (21.3), Free-Throw's Made per Game (16.0), and Offensive Rebounds per Game (10.69)
- 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 1/26 teams in the NCAA to have 7 different players lead the team in scoring in different games this season
- Evan Otten currently sits at 117 career blocks, just 4 shy of tying Bengal great, Brayden Parker, for 3rd at 121
- Evan Otten now has 51 blocks on the season, just 6 short of tying Bengal legend Steve Hays' 1976-77 total of 57 for 5th most in a single season
- Evan Otten is averaging 1.76 blocks per game, which is on pace to be 7th in the ISU Single-Season record books.
- Gus Etchison averaged 32.5 points per game last week en route to being name Conference and Lou Henson National Player of the Week
- Etchison's Big Sky weekly honor was the first since Dylan Darling won the award back on Feb. 25th, 2025, and the first-ever Bengal to be named Lou Henson National Player of the Week
