Jabril Banks wanted to win so badly that he shrugged off a severely dislocated finger on his shooting hand like it was a paper cut.
Chron Tatum wanted to win so badly that he crawled off the court in the first half with a bruised knee cap and asked a trainer to get him back in the game as quickly as possible.
No one else sustained noticeable injuries Saturday at Holt Arena during the first round of the Big Sky tournament, but it was fairly obvious that each and every person in uniform was in no hurry to have their season come to an end.
And with both teams playing at their maximum intensity levels, Idaho State turned their basketball game into something that resembled a 12-round fight. Offense was at a premium, and every loose ball was met with six different sets of hands.
But Idaho State proved to be the tougher team in the end and prevailed 67-60 to advance to the semifinal round of the conference tournament. The Bengals next will play Portland State at 5 p.m. on Tuesday at Dee Events Center in Ogden, Utah.
"This isn't the way I envisioned this night going," ISU coach Joe O'Brien said. "We've been pretty efficient on offense lately. … Tonight, offense wasn't our thing. It was tough, and it wasn't pretty. But in March, you take a win any way you can get it. We're pretty excited right now."
No one more than senior guard Matt Stucki. He couldn't have been happier when this game was over. He waved to the rowdy crowd of 2,900 and took a victory lap around the court before walking off it for the last time.
His final game in Pocatello ended with an impressive statline: a game-high 20 points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists.
Northern Colorado coach Tad Boyle said his play was a major factor in the game.
"I thought Matt Stucki was great tonight," Boyle said. "For a senior to go out like that and score 20 points was impressive. He was great."
He also brought the Holt Arena crowd to its feet for almost an entire minute when he just about jumped over Northern Colorado's Devon Beitzel and threw down a monster dunk in the first half.
His teammates were so amazed by it at the time that they urged the home fans to applaud as long as possible. Even O'Brien was getting in on the act.
"That," O'Brien said, "was a highlight reel dunk."
Aside from that play, though, the game was anything but an offensive masterpiece.
Only five players scored in double figures, and junior guards Austin Kilpatrick and Donnie Carson, who scored 10 and 12 points, respectively, were praised more for their rebounding and defense than anything else.
"I had to display some of my football skills out there," said Carson after hauling in six rebounds.
Idaho State needed every one of them. The Bengals went into halftime trailing 36-30 and never went on an extended run to take the game over.
With less than three minutes remaining, the score was tied 55-55, and it was anybody's game.
But the Bengals proved to be the more aggressive team down the stretch and got to the foul line on almost every possession. Carson made a free throw to put Idaho State up by a point, and Stucki made two to extend the lead to 58-55.
Sensing the game was slipping away, Northern Colorado worked for a good shot on its next possession, and Will Figures put up an open 3-pointer. But he missed, and Idaho State made 8-of-10 free throws from there to win the game.
"We missed a big shot and from then on I don't think we got a stop," Boyle said. "They got to the free-throw line and made their shots."
O'Brien said he was proud of his players for making those key gimmies but also pointed out that he was glad they had the support of a home crowd.
After all, he said, it's a lot easier to make free throws when the fans are cheering for you than against you.
With Montana State upsetting Montana, it may also be easier for Idaho State to take on Portland State, a team it has beaten this year, on a neutral court rather than playing No. 1 seed Weber State, a team it has not beaten this year, in a true road setting.
But after holding off Northern Colorado in a last-man standing type of game, O'Brien said he didn't care who the Bengals play next.
"I'm just glad we're heading south," he said. "We'll play whoever they tell us to play."