Bengals Fall to Portland State
By Kellie O'Brien, ISU Sports Information
Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team (8-16, 6-6 BSC) fell to the Portland State Vikings (12-12, 6-6 BSC) on Thursday night at Holt Arena. Despite the loss the Bengals remain at third place in the Big Sky standings in a three way tie with Montana State and Portland State.
Junior Melvin Morgan led ISU with 18 points, two assists and five rebounds. Morgan went four of seven from beyond the arc. Seniors Kenny McGowen and Abner Moreira also saw double figures in the game against PSU. McGowen put up 13 points while Moreira recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
“Abner is not a big offensive guy but he just plays his tail off on both ends of the floor,” Idaho State Interim Head Coach Deane Martin said. “He gives you everything he can. When he posts up like he did tonight it really opens up things for us offensively. If we can get that stuff out of Abner it is just a plus for us.”
Idaho State shot 37 percent from the field while the Portland State shot 46 percent. The Bengals were out rebounded by the Vikings 37-30 and the PSU bench recorded 17 points to ISU's two points.
The Bengals only lead in the game was with 18:32 in the first half and they trailed by as many as 14 throughout the game.
Idaho State goes on the road this weekend to face Northern Arizona on Saturday. Fans can listen to the game live on 930 KSEI, the contest is slated to begin at 6:35 MST.
“We just have to get on the bus in the morning, travel and get ready for a game on Saturday,” Martin said.
Reed Leads Bengals Past NAU
Junior guard Lindsey Reed tallied 23 points against the Lumberjacks
By Jaime Schroeder-ISU Sports Information
POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State defeated Northern Arizona (7-17, 2-10 BSC) 62-54 in Reed Gym Thursday night. The Bengals improve to 10-1 in Big Sky Conference play, 18-6 overall.
Sophomore guard Lindsey Reed led the Bengals in scoring with 23, shooting 5-for-9 from the field and knocking down 12 from the charity line. Reed’s 23 points ties her season-best for the 2011-12 campaign.
“Lindsey came out very aggressive tonight,” ISU Head Coach Seton Sobolewski said. “She just stepped up. She had some opportunities to go to the basket and drove a lot. She drew some fouls and hit some nice pull-up shots.”
Junior forward Ashleigh Vella also scored in the double digits with 13 points, 10 of them coming from free throws. Senior guard Chelsea Pickering had 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
The Bengals were sent to the free throw line several times for the night, making 26 out of 33 attempts. From the field, ISU was 16-for-47, shooting 34 percent for the contest.
Sophomore forward Cydney Horton was strong in the paint by gathering 10 rebounds and recording three blocks.
Defense was a strong point for ISU again as the Bengals held NAU to a 38.2 shooting percentage throughout the game. Idaho State also recorded five blocks and seven steals, with Reed notching four. The Bengals outrebounded the Lumberjacks 42- 33 and nabbed 14 offensive boards.
In the first half, Idaho State shot 43.5 percent from the field and was led by Reed with nine points. ISU’s stellar defense helped to create 12 points off of turnovers. The Bengals went to the locker room up 33-28 at the half.
While ISU only shot 25 percent in the second half, the team’s defense helped keep the Bengals in the game and ISU never allowed NAU to get closer than within three. Reed scored 14 second-half points, seven coming from the free-throw line.
The Bengals face Portland State next with a contest Saturday, Feb. 11 on the road. Tipoff is slated for 3:05 p.m. MST. The Vikings are currently in sixth place in the Big Sky with a 5-5 record. The Bengals won a 78-63 decision in the last meeting with PSU in Pocatello.
