Pocatello, ID- Idaho State's men's basketball team battled the Montana State University Bobcats Saturday night in a thriller. The Bengals and Bobcats exchanged buckets all first half and neither team could shake the other as the teams went into halftime all knotted up at 29 apiece. In the second half the Bengals struggled out of the gates, as they fell behind by six. Idaho State answered right back as they came back to exchange leads with the Bobcats in the final minutes. As the contest came down to the wire, late game free-throws and turnovers ailed the Bengals as they went 4-of-8 from the free-throw line in the final 5:40 of the game and finished the game with 18 turnovers. Montana State turned those turnovers into 22 points, whereas the Bengals could only score six total points off turnovers all game. The Bengals fell to the Bobcats 58-52. Following the loss, the Bengals will drop to 9-17 on the season & 6-7 in conference play, their first time this season having their conference record drop below .500. The Montana State University Bobcats will move up to 18-9 on the season and 11-3 in the Big Sky after the win.
Brock Mackenzie was Idaho State's top performer tonight as he finished with 12 points on 4-of-10 shooting from the field, a season-high six assists, three rebounds, and one block. Kolby Lee tallied 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting and three rebounds and Brayden Parker put up 11 points, four rebounds, and three blocks. Austin Smellie had eight points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Starting point guard, Miguel Tomley, was a late scratch from tonight's game as he was ruled out a few hours before gametime with a back injury.
The Bengals finished the game shooting 39.1 percent from the field and 50 percent from deep making 5-of-10 shots from beyond the arc. The Bengals tallied 12 assists, 34 rebounds, and just 2 steals. Montana State finished the game shooting 35.3 percent from the field and 14.3 percent from distance.
The Idaho State men's basketball team will be back in action Thursday, February 16th to square off against the Portland State University Vikings in Peter W. Stott Athletic Center in Portland, Oregon at 8 p.m. MDT.
