POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State Men's Basketball closes the 2025–26 regular season on Monday night with a road matchup at Sacramento State. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. MT inside Hornet Pavilion.
The Bengals enter the finale ranked No. 228 in the NCAA NET, while Sacramento State sits at No. 274. Monday marks Idaho State's final opportunity to build momentum heading into the Big Sky Conference Tournament.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Tipoff: 8:00 p.m. MT
Location: The Nest – Sacramento, California
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: KISU 91.1 FM – Scott Gross
Live Stats: isubengals.com
IDAHO STATE TEAM OVERVIEW
Idaho State enters the regular season finale ranked No. 228 in the NCAA NET and continues to lean on interior defense, bench production, and frontcourt efficiency. The Bengals lead the Big Sky Conference in blocks per game (4.3), ranking 54th nationally, and also lead the conference in bench points per game (31.17), ranking 22nd in the NCAA. ISU ranks 3rd in the Big Sky in free throw attempts per game (21.1) and free throws made per game (15.9), and sits 5th in the league in free throw percentage (75.1%).
Individually, Evan Otten continues to anchor the interior, leading the Big Sky in total blocks (55) and blocks per game (1.83), ranking 32nd and 35th nationally in those categories. Caleb Van De Griend ranks 2nd in the Big Sky in double-doubles (7), 6th in total rebounds (194), 4th in offensive rebounds per game (2.60), and 6th in rebounds per game (6.5). Connor Hollenbeck ranks 8th in the Big Sky in free throw attempts (130) and free throws made (106), while shooting 81.5 percent from the line, ranking 6th in the conference in free throw percentage. He leads the team in scoring at 13.3 points per game. Jamison Guerra ranks 3rd in the Big Sky in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.47), 6th in total assists (116), and 7th in assists per game (3.9). Martin Kheil ranks 3rd in the Big Sky in three-point attempts (173), 4th in three-pointers per game (2.25), and 5th in total three-point field goals made (63).
As a team, Idaho State ranks 3rd in the Big Sky in offensive rebounds per game (10.8), 5th in turnovers per game (11.0), and 5th in scoring defense (76.0)
.
SCOUTING SACRAMENTO STATE
Sacramento State enters Monday ranked No. 274 in the NET and features one of the most aggressive free-throw attacking offenses in the Big Sky.
The Hornets rank 1st in the Big Sky in free throw attempts per game (25.0), 1st in free throw percentage (77.8%), and 1st in free throws made per game (19.4), ranking among the top 25 nationally in attempts and percentage.
Sacramento State also leads the conference in steals per game (7.6) and turnover margin (+1.9), forcing opponents into mistakes while protecting the basketball.
Prophet Johnson drives the Hornet attack, ranking 4th in the Big Sky in scoring (18.5 PPG), 2nd in rebounds per game (7.4), 1st in defensive rebounds per game (5.79), and 1st in steals per game (2.64), ranking 3rd nationally in steals per game.
Mark Lavrenov ranks 3rd in the conference in rebounds per game (7.2), 3rd in offensive rebounds per game (2.69), and 5th in free throw percentage (82.3%), while recording six double-doubles.
Mikey Williams ranks 4th in the Big Sky in free throws made (127) and 4th in free throw attempts (153).
Defensively, Sacramento State ranks 10th in the Big Sky in scoring defense (83.1) and 10th in rebound margin (-5.4), illustrating the contrast between their offensive production and defensive inconsistency.
SERIES HISTORY
Idaho State leads the all-time series 35–28.
Breakdown:
20–12 Home
12–15 Away
1–1 Neutral
Recent Results:
1/1/2026 – H – W, 97–84
2/22/2025 – H – W, 83–66
1/23/2025 – A – L, 75–71
2/8/2024 – H – W, 68–40
1/13/2024 – A – L, 66–64
The Bengals have won three of the last four meetings, including a 97–84 victory in Reed Gym earlier this season.
BENGAL BITES
- Caleb Van De Griend is T-14th in FGM (139), 6th in total rebounds (194), 6th in rebounds per game (6.5), 17th in total points (361), T-20th in PPG (12.0), T-7th in Blocks (21), and is 2nd in double-doubles (7) (80th in NCAA)
- Connor Hollenbeck ranks 13th in the Big Sky in points per game (13.3), 11th in total points (398), T-19th in three-pointers made (42), T-19th in three-pointers per game (1.4), 7th in FT% (81.5%), 8th in FTM (106), T-21st in Blocks (12), T-17th in steals (26), & T-18th in Minutes per Game (29.8)
- Jamison Guerra is 3rd in the Big Sky in assist/turnover ratio (2.47) (83rd in NCAA), 6th in total assists (116), 7th in assists per game (3.9), & 33rd in the Big Sky in PPG (9.4) (4th on team)
- Martin Kheil ranks 31st in the Big Sky in scoring (9.5 PPG), 4th in three-pointers per game (2.25), & 5th in 3PM (63)
- Evan Otten leads the Big Sky in total blocks (55) and blocks per game (1.83), ranking 32nd in total blocks & 35th in blocks per game in the NCAA
- Cheikh Sow T-22nd in the Big Sky in total steals (25) & T-24th in Blocks (11)
- Idaho State leads the Big Sky in bench points per game (31.17) (22nd in the NCAA) & blocks per game (4.3) (54th 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 (15.9), and Offensive Rebounds per Game (10.8)
- 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 121 career blocks, tying Bengal great, Brayden Parker, for 3rd in program history after recording 4 blocks in the Bengals' Feb. 28th game vs. Weber State
- Evan Otten now has 55 blocks on the season, just 2 short of tying Bengal legend Steve Hays' 1976-77 total of 57 for 5th most in a single season
- Evan Otten is averaging 1.83 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
