ISU Bengal

Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Cody Fowers

After a slow start, Idaho State (10-16, 7-6) remained persistent in their rebounding, were consistant in their free throw shooting and maintained a decent shot selection to pick up a Big Sky Conference win against Montana State 64-49 (15-11, 7-6) on Thursday night.

Matt Stucki was the game's high scorer with 21 points in 35 minutes, shooting an exceptional 12-of-13 from the line in Holt Arena.

The Bengals dominated the boards throughout the game and finished with a 44-29 rebounding edge, providing for 17 of their second chance points.

Logan Kinghorn, who connected on two 3-pointers in the game and finished with 13 points, had a game-high 13 rebounds for Idaho State. Donnie Carson, who had a key 3-pointer in the second half, finished with 12 points and eight rebounds.

Idaho State's tenacious defense accounted for seven steals and held Montana State to just 25 percent shooting in the second half and only 32 percent for the game. Big Sky leading scorer Carlos Taylor (18.9 ppg), who was a recruit of Coach Joe O'Brien, was held to just 11 points, shooting just 2-for-11 from the field and 1-for-7 from behind the arc.

Idaho State trailed 9-3 to begin the game before going on a 10-1 run, capped by a Matt Stucki 3-pointer with under 12 minutes to play in the first half. The Bengals would take a 29-23 lead in at halftime and go up by as many as 17 in the second half.

"I think this is probably as satisfying for me as any win since I've been here because we did things the way, as a head basketball coach, I envisioned my team playing," said the smiling and good-spirited Coach O'Brien following the game.

Four games separate the Big Sky's top five teams with Portland State leading the way at 11-2. After their final regular season home game on Sunday against Montana, Idaho State will hit the road and take on Sacramento State and the second-place Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona.

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