Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho- The Idaho State men's basketball team gave first-place Northern Colorado its toughest test through the first four Big Sky Conference games but the Bears still prevailed 82-75 on Saturday night at Butler Hancock Sports Pavilion. Prior to Saturday's game, Northern Colorado (10-3, 4-0) had won its first three league games by 18, 36 and 19 points.
In a game that saw 15 lead changes and six ties,
Andre Hatchett led the ISU scoring with 25 points and
Tomas Sanchez had 21.
Jeffrey Solarin had 14 points and seven rebounds while
Chris Hansen had 10 points.
"This was a good college basketball game," Idaho State coach
Bill Evans said. "A lot of guys really played hard. How hard we played them says something about our guys. They really tried hard and I am proud of them."
Idaho State shot 56.3 percent for the game and 60 percent in the second half. Both teams had 14 turnovers but ISU was out rebounded 29-25. Northern Colorado went to the free throw line 35 times and made 24 while ISU made 14 of 20 free throws. Northern Colorado did shoot 50 percent from the field for the game.
ISU made 7-17 from the 3-point line while the Bears connected on eight 3's on 21 attempts.
"Northern Colorado played physical and pounded the offensive glass," Evans said. "They are one of the first teams to out rebound us all season. We need to do a better job of getting fouled when we go to the baskets. We need to get stops and pound the ball to the basket."
The Bengals showed their never-say-die mentality in the second half. Trailing 53-43 with 14:55 left in the game, Idaho State went on a 16-5 run and took a 59-58 lead with 7:44 left in the contest after a 3-pointer by Hansen.
The Bengals held leads of 61-60 and 63-62 after baskets by Hatchett and Sanchez with 5:28 remaining. Northern Colorado then took a 72-65 lead two minutes later. The Bengals fought to get within three points in the final minutes before the Bears were able to seal the victory.
Idaho State hosts Southern Utah on Thursday, January 16, at 7 p.m. at ICCU Court in Holt Arena. At halftime, the 2013 Big Sky champion Bengal volleyball team will be honored. After the ceremony the team will sign autographs behind the West bleachers on Holt Arena. A limited number of championship volleyball t-shirts will be on sale at halftime, where the team will sign autographs, for $15 and autograph cards will be available for the 500 fans that come to the game.
"We need to keep getting better," Evans said. "The team has not reached its potential and that is exciting to me."
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