Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho- It wasn't the ending the Idaho State men's basketball team envisioned but the Bengals still left the Alex G. Spanos Center with their heads held high after getting beat by Pacific 66-64 at the buzzer in overtime in the ESPN Bracketbuster game.
“Our guys care about playing the game,” Idaho State Interim Coach Deane Martin said. “When you compete like they did tonight you can leave with your head held high. This was a fun game to watch. It had a great tempo from the start. When you get into an overtime game and they hit a shot like that you just throw your hands up and move on to the next one.”
The Bengals took a 64-63 lead with 4.9 seconds left in overtime after
Melvin Morgan made one of two free throws. Pacific's Trevin Harris then hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Tigers to the victory.
Idaho State was led by Morgan's 22 points, four assists and five steals.
Chase Grabau had 14 points, six rebounds and six steals in 44 minutes of play while
Abner Moreira had seven points and nine rebounds in 45 minutes.
Andre Hatchett also played the full 45 minutes
“The guys want to play,” Martin said. “They have earned the spot and you have to let the players play. They have earned the opportunity and you have to let them play until they are tired.”
Idaho State shot 37.5 percent for the game while the Tigers shot 43.9 percent from the field.
“We just couldn't get the shots to fall,” Martin said. “We knew if we kept defending that we would keep ourselves in the game. We did a very good job on the defensive end tonight.”
Both teams had 38 rebounds and the Tigers were forced into 21 turnovers while ISU had only 10.
Just to get to overtime the Bengals went on a 10-0 run in the final 5:15 of regulation as they trailed 56-46. After jumpers by Moreira and Grabau and two free throws by Morgan, ISU trailed 56-52 with 2:40 remaining. McGowen then hit two free throws with 2:03 to play and a steal and layup by Morgan tied the game at 56 with 40 seconds to play.
Idaho State had a chance to win the game in regulation but a 3-pointer by McGowen at the buzzer fell short.
Both teams traded baskets early in the extra stanza. A 3-pointer by McGowen with 1:09 left in the period gave the Bengals a 63-60 lead. Pacific then hit a 3-pointer with 15 seconds left to tie the game. On the ensuing possession Morgan hit one of two free throws to give Idaho State the 64-63 lead. Harris then came down and hit the game-winning 3-pointer.
The Bengals return to conference play on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. for a home contest against Eastern Washington. The game will be played in Reed Gym.
Notes:
Chase Grabau had a career-high six steals.
Melvin Morgan had a career-high five steals. Tonight's game is the third time in his career that
Abner Moreira has played 45 minutes.
Andre Hatchett played a career-high 45 minutes.
