POCATELLO — It didn’t take long for Ryan Looney to live up to his reputation.

Idaho State’s first-year men’s basketball coach and his players still have a long way to go — and a lot left to prove — but last Thursday’s 89-79 road victory against heavily-favored Air Force caught plenty of eyes, including those of some national pundits.

It also thrust one of ISU’s many new players into the spotlight, as Tarik Cool scored 41 points and quickly inserted himself into the school’s record books.

It was the type of victory few expected from this season’s rebuilding and reinventing Bengals (1-1), but Looney’s career has been built by developing winners, so it was only a matter of time until ISU notched a landmark win of that caliber.

“I’m proud of our guys for turning a corner,” Looney said after Tuesday’s practice at Reed Gym. “I hope that we can continue it here on Thursday.”

ISU can maintain its momentum Thursday against Montana Western at Reed Gym. The NAIA program doesn’t offer the upset potential that Air Force did, but gives ISU a chance to keep refining its system — and maybe more importantly, find some offensive consistency.

ISU scored 89 points against Air Force two days after scoring 40 points in a 54-40 loss at Wyoming. Looney has admitted that his “complicated” offense may take a long time to start clicking, but after three frustrating offensive showings — two exhibitions and the Wyoming game — the Bengals operated much more smoothly against Air Force.

Looney’s offense relies on well-executed screens, cuts, spacing and ball movement, with each aspect working in concert. ISU wasn’t crisp enough in previous games, leading to stagnant possessions and contested shots.

The Bengals shot 50% overall and 41.4% from 3-point range against Air Force, averaging 1.29 points per possession.

By comparison, ISU scored 0.7 points per possession versus Wyoming.

“Our guys did a really good job sticking together through some adversity after the Wyoming game. That’s tough,” Looney said. “We literally ran no offense. I don’t know if we ever took a good shot. ... We challenged them to get to the point where we could collectively try to execute on offense the way we practice every single day. ... I think buy-in is right word. On that night, all of our guys did. They decided that they were going to make a serious attempt to execute the way we practice every day, and did a really good job.

“We screened better, we cut harder, we moved the ball faster, and magically, all the contested shots we were taking against Wyoming, a lot of them were wide-open against Air Force.”

ISU leaned on the 3, making 12 of 29 shots from behind the arc. Twelve offensive rebounds also led to 14 second-chance points.

And for the first time this season, the Bengals were formidable at the free-throw line, making 21 of 25 (84%). Cool led the way, making all 15 of his freebies, including eight in the final 52 seconds to help ISU ice the game.

Cool’s 41-point outburst tied him for the 14th-most single-game points in ISU history and was the Bengals’ first 40-point game since Lawrence Butler went for 41 twice in 1979.

Cool said 41 is likely his career-high. He scored 36 in a game last season at Lane Community College.

“I’m definitely happy with my performance,” Cool said Tuesday. “My teammates did a lot to help me out with that, and coaches as well. A lot of my points came from running the offense, it wasn’t just (isolation) points or anything like that. My teammates put me in a good position to score the ball.”

ISU continued to rebound well, grabbing 32 to Air Force’s 26. The Bengals own a plus-9 rebounding margin this season and are pulling down 36.2% of offensive rebounds, while opponents gather just 20.8% percent of offensive boards.

ISU is also contesting the 3-point line better than most Division I teams. Wyoming and Air Force combined to shoot 2 for 21 from the arc — 9.5% — which ties the Bengals for second in D-I in 3-point defense.

Inside the arc, though, opponents have had plenty of success against ISU.

Wyoming and Air Force combined to convert 44 of 68 2-point tries (64.7%), pinning ISU at 339th out of 353 Division I teams.

Looney doesn’t seem concerned with that, however, likely resigned to the fact that his undersized squad will give up points inside.

But if the Bengals can continue to counter that with lock-down defense on the perimeter, Looney likes his team’s chances.

“It’s a big emphasis for us,” Looney said of guarding the arc. “Teams are shooting a high percentage inside the 3-point line on us because we’re hurt, banged up and small. It is what it is.”

UPDATES ON CARR, PARKER, MOCSAN

Looney said Tuesday that Cal Poly transfer Daxton Carr is still awaiting word from the NCAA on a waiver that would allow him to play this season, instead of waiting the usually-mandated year.

ISU senior Jared Stutzman was in a similar situation in 2017, when he transferred to Idaho State from Utah Valley. He received clearance from the NCAA on the day of ISU’s fourth game of the season.

Looney said that depending on how long ISU and Carr have to wait, it may “be in Daxton’s best interest to redshirt, anyway.”

“I don’t even know where we’re at with it or if we can even get it,” Looney said.

Senior Balint Mocsan, ISU’s returning leading scorer from a season ago, wasn’t wearing his sling during Tuesday’s practice. He had an offseason shoulder procedure that’s led to a foggy timetable to make his season debut, but his sling-free presence at practice is an encouraging sign.

“He’s dressing for practice every day,” Looney said. “He has a follow-up appointment in about 10 days and we’ll know more at that time.”

Sophomore post Brayden Parker is still out with a boot on his right foot. Looney was optimistic that he and Mocsan can both return for the Bengals’ Big Sky Conference opener on Dec. 28 against Idaho.

“He’s been cleared to do some more stuff. He’s riding a bike, he’ll do a pool workout tomorrow,” Looney said. “He has his follow-up appointment the day after Balint does. So regardless of what the timeline’s going to look like, we’re probably going to bring them back at the same time.”

SCOUTING MONTANA WESTERN

The Bulldogs (3-2) head to Pocatello for the second year in a row and the fourth time since 2012.

Montana Western ranks 21st out of 91 NAIA Division I squads with 91.8 points per game, led by 18.2 ppg from James Jones and 16.4 from Cedric Boone.

The Bulldogs shoot 40.1% from 3-point range and lead NAIA Division I with an average assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.11.

“They have two guards that can really score it and a whole bunch of guys that can really shoot the 3,” Looney said.

In last season’s meeting, Montana Western held a lead with 11 minutes, 59 seconds left in the second half, and led by as many as seven points in the Bengals’ 74-66 win. Boone dumped in 27 points on 6-of-10 3-point shooting.

Thursday’s game is an exhibition for Montana Western, but counts for Idaho State.

“Right now, every game’s scary for us,” Looney said. “They’ve played relatively well so far, and with a depleted roster, we’re preparing for anyone, regardless of what level they play.”