Bengals Capitalize on Perfect Storm to Knock Out Bobcats

Thursday, February 14

Pocatello, ID

7:05 p.m.

Montana State University

10-13, 7-8

IDAHO STATE

5-19, 4-11

Montana State

Idaho State

Montana State lost 87-51 at Idaho State Thursday

Photo by: Kelly Gorham

Bengals Capitalize on Perfect Storm to Knock Out Bobcats

2/14/2013 9:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Superb defense, hot shooting lead Idaho State to victory

By: Bill Lamberty

In the gym where Idaho State won two NCAA Boxing Championships in the 1950s, the Bengals delivered their knockout blow early on Thursday, making six of their first nine three-point attempts on the way to an 87-51 win over Montana State.

“They made shots often and we just couldn't trade punches with them,” MSU coach Brad Huse said. “Their zone defense was awesome tonight.”

Melvin Morgan nailed a three-pointer on the game's first possession and Chris Hansen followed with another on ISU's next trip down the floor, and the Bengals grabbed and maintained a double-digit lead for the game's final 29 minutes. That happened on the strength of hot shooting – ISU finished 13-for-21 (62%) from long range and 30-for-47 overall (64%).

Individually, the story of the night was ISU guard Chris Hansen. The sophomore finished with 27 points and his nine three-pointers set a school record. “Hansen is just a really good shooter,” Huse said. “We didn't have an answer for him.”

And while Idaho State made considerable noise offensively, Huse was quick to credit the team's defense, Huse was quick to credit the Bengals' zone. “Their zone was so efficient and active,” he said. “They did a great job defensively and we could never get all the way back into the game.”

Montana State climbed to within eight at 9:47 of the first half, but when Morgan drilled a three-pointer and Andre Hatchett converted a layup the Bengals led 25-12. In fact, that spurt started a 13-0 run that put the game away.

The lead soared to 38 points at one point in the second half, and when reserve Dejan Kostur hit a three-pointer in the waning moments the Bengals matched their biggest margin of victory in the long history of the series. The only other time the Bengals beat MSU by 36 points was one week short of 60 years ago. Dwight Eisenhower had just been inaugurated when the Bengals handed MSU a 90-54 defeat on February 21, 1953.

Flavien Davis, coming off a two-game absence for personal reasons, played well in the second half. The junior forward finished with 11 points, the only Bobcat in double-digits. Hansen's 27 points led all scorers, while Morgan finished with 15 and Hatchett 12.