Idaho State downs Vandals, 87-71, behind best 3-point shooting game of the season

POCATELLO – The Bengals men’s basketball team hosted their rivals the Idaho Vandals for the first meeting between the two programs this season. The Bengals came into the game having split the season series with the Vandals last year, however, have owned the recent series, defeating Idaho in 11 of their last 13 meetings.

ISU won the game 87-71.

This matchup would feature former Bengal, Kolton Mitchell, in his first time returning to Pocatello since transferring to the University of Idaho this past offseason.

Both teams would remain close with one another the majority of the first half. Idaho State would lead most of the way, the Vandals gained their first lead of the ballgame at 20-21 with 7:53 remaining in the half. UI grew their lead to four points, 21-25, with 5:33 to play in the first, however, Idaho State would end the half on a high note, going on an 18-4 run to take a 10-point lead into the locker rooms, 39-29.

In the second half the Bengals and Vandals battled tightly, Idaho cutting the ISU lead down to just five, 51-46, with 14:45 to play, however, once again the Bengals had a response. This time Idaho State would go on a 10-2 run, giving themselves a 13-point advantage, 63-50, with 11:29 to play. Idaho State grew their lead to a game-high 21 points, 82-61, following a Dylan Darling tripe with 4:34 left in the game. Once the final horn sounded the Bengals would defeat the Vandals by a score of 87-71, the 2nd most points scored by a Bengal team on the Vandals since the 1993-94 season.

Idaho State would use their big night from deep to propel them to victory. The Bengals would finish red-hot from beyond the arc, going 16-26 (61.5%) from three-point range. Marking single game season highs in both 3PM and 3P%.

Idaho State will move back to .500 overall at 10-10, and improve to 5-4 in Big Sky play. Idaho will drop to 10-13 overall & 5-5 in Big Sky Conference play.

Dylan Darling lead the way once again for Idaho State, as he was all over the place today. Darling would total a game high 28 points on 8-16 shooting from the field and a career high 6-11 shooting from three-point range, nine assists, and two rebounds in 37 minutes of action.

Jake O’Neil got back into the double-double column snatching his 11th on the season, tallying 12 points on 4-6 shooting from the floor and 3-4 from deep, 10 rebounds, and three assists in 35 minutes of playing time. Isaiah Griffin finished today with 14 points on 6-13 shooting from the field, three rebounds, two steals, and one block.

Connor Hollenbeck would stuff the stat sheet, totaling three points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal. The final Bengal starter was Evan Otten. Otten would struggle with foul trouble, his third time in the last four games, only seeing 11 total minutes of playing time today. However, when Otten was on the court, he was effective. Finishing with six points on 2-3 shooting from the floor, and making his presence felt on the defensive end.

Captain AJ Burgin, would come through for Ryan Looney & Co. off the bench once again in this one. Giving Idaho State 16 well played minutes with 12 points on 4-5 shooting from three and four rebounds. Jackson Greene and Blake Daberkow would also provide the Bengals with valuable bench minutes, both of them making big defensive plays down the stretch. Greene would end his night with seven points, four rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal, all in 26 minutes of play.

Daberkow would put up five points, two rebounds, ties his career high with two blocks, and one assist in 18 minutes of play (most since Jan. 4th at Northern Colorado).

The Bengals finished the game shooting 52.8 percent from the field (4th highest in a game this season), and setting their season high in 3-point percentage (61.5%), and 3-pointers made deep finishing 16-26 from three-point land. Idaho State ended the game with 32 rebounds, 19 assists, and 4 steals.

Idaho finished the game shooting 44.2 percent from the field and 25 percent from three-point territory, going 6-24. The Vandals would finish with 9 assists, 25 boards, and 3 steals.

NEXT UP

Next up for the Bengals, they will host the Northern Colorado Bears on Monday, Feb. 3rd at 7 P.M. to complete their three-game homestand. Idaho State looks to avenge their overtime loss in Greeley from just a few weeks ago, and UNC will look to defend their league leading 8-1 conference record.

The Bengals and Bears are slated to tip off Monday night at 7 P.M. in Reed Gym and will be streamed on ESPN+, you can listen along live with Scott Gross on KISU, or you can follow along with LiveStats.