POCATELLO — While Brandon Boyd and Kelvin Jones solemnly reflected on the game they just lost, their opponents celebrated their win in the room next door in the basement of Reed Gym.
It was a disappointing reversal of fortune for Idaho State, which had its home opener spoiled by Pacific on Thursday with an 83-76 loss at Reed Gym.
ISU (1-2) made seven field goals after halftime, missed its final eight shots and let an 11-point, second-half lead slip away.
“I don't think we executed the plays as well as we'd like to toward the end,” Jones said.
The Bengals didn't make a shot over the final 3 minutes, 54 seconds of the game. ISU's last make was a Brandon Boyd layup that tied the score at 73. Three free throws is all the Bengals got the rest of the way, as Pacific (3-1) ended the game on a 10-3 run. ISU shot 26.9 percent from the field in the second half.
2:36 to play: Pacific leads ISU 75-73. Brandon Boyd snuck inside for this finish to temporarily tie the game. #BigSkyMBB pic.twitter.com/AHYLYJxhbX
— Madison Guernsey (@MGuernsey_ISJ) November 16, 2018
ISU led by as many as nine points in the first half and had its largest lead of the night, 50-39, less than 2 minutes into the second. Pacific answered with 11 consecutive points, and eventually tied the score twice before pulling in front 60-59 at the 9:35 mark — the Tigers' first lead since 2-0.
Idaho State never regained the advantage. Boyd's game-tying layup at the 3:54 mark was the final tally of his 28-point effort, which included 13 points in a row during a span of 3:23 for ISU down the stretch.
The visitors from Stockton, California, held a 41-26 rebounding advantage, went 17 of 18 from the free-throw line and made 10 of 21 shots from 3-point range. The Tigers pulled down 14 offensive boards, leading to 18 second-chance points, and got 36 points from their bench.
“We got out-rebounded, we got out-worked, we didn't defend the second half,” ISU coach Bill Evans said. “They took took it and went back to Stockton.”
ISU's ice-cold, end-of-game shooting canceled out a red-hot first half. The Bengals went 9 for 12 to start the game and made eight shots in a row to pull ahead 21-14. Jared Stutzman, Alonzo Walker, Boyd, Balint Mocsan, Gary Chivichyan and Chier Maker each made a first-half 3-pointer to help ISU lead 45-39 at the break, thanks to 57.1 percent shooting.
But the Bengals never put the game out of reach. ISU didn't have a run longer than 4-0 after halftime.
“We got a lot of good shots, but then we took a lot of bad shots,” Boyd said. “We only had eight assists, also. That's not good enough.”
Boyd added four assists to his season-high 28 points. Stutzman had 12 points, Jones had 11 points with seven rebounds and Mocsan chipped in 10 points. Maker added seven points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
ISU made 6 of 14 first-half 3-pointers, but went of 5 of 19 in the second and finished the game 11 for 33 from downtown. Idaho State shot 33 3s against 21 2s.
The Bengals entered the game shooting 3-pointers at a 41.9 percent clip on the season.
“We took some ill-advised 3s,” Evans said. “Thirty-three (3s) is a lot, especially when you're only shooting the ball 54 times. … Some people would be happy with 5 for 19, but not with this team.”
Jahlil Tripp, Anthony Townes and Ajare Sanni led Pacific with 14 points apiece, and Sanni got his off the bench.
Including Thursday's game, Pacific owns a 156-115 rebounding advantage over its opponents this season.
“That was one of the things I felt like we had to do. I felt like we had to rebound the ball,” Evans said. “We have to rebound the ball better.”
ISU hosts Bethesda on Monday at Reed Gym before heading to Pepperdine.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In