Lucas Gebhart
Sports Editor
After one of the most successful regular seasons in recent history, the Idaho State University men’s basketball team fell victim to an 83-49 defeat at the hands of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks on Thursday.
It was a rough start for ISU, as the Bengals struggled both offensively and defensively in the first half against North Dakota. The Bengals got beat in every category, in every different way.
ISU trailed 12-7 at the first media timeout as Adam McDermott completed a 4-point play for the Fighting Hawks with just over 14 minutes left in the first half.
The Fighting Hawks would go on a 30-3 run over 11 plus minutes starting at the 15 minute mark of half number one, putting the Bengals in a big hole early. At halftime the score was a 46-17 lead for North Dakota.
Head coach Bill Evans’ zone, which has worked for the majority of the year, was solved like a rubix cube.
In the second half, the Bengals slowly chipped away at the lead.
ISU went on a 9-0 run over the course of 2:07 to cut it to 51-31 with just under 13 minutes left in the ball game.
UND began to get into foul trouble with two starters, Cradwell and Avants, picked up their fourth fouls midway through the second half.
But the hole for ISU was too big to overcome. ISU cut the 30 point deficit to 17, but that was as close as they would come, as the Fighting Hawks routed the Bengals 83-49 Thursday afternoon at the Reno Events Center, the largest margin of victory by any team in tournament play by a men’s basketball team.
“They came out and punched us in the mouth,” senior Ben Wilson said. “They threw the first punch.”
ISU is now 0-3 this year vs. North Dakota.
“What was wrong with us was North Dakota,” said Evans “We need to give North Dakota credit.”
Ethan Telfair, who lit it up all season for ISU, was just 5/20 from the field. Ben Wilson ended the game with 8 and Geno Luzcando had 10.
The Bengals shot 26.8 percent from the field and made just 13 of 22 free throws.
The Fighting Hawks on the other hand, shot 46.7 percent from the field and made 9 threes, five of which came from McDermott, who ended the game with 16 points. Two weeks ago, ISU was the best 3-point defensive team statistically in the conference.
Four players were in double figures for the Fighting Hawks.
North Dakota dominated ISU on the boards, as the Bengals were out rebounded 55-31. UND’s Drick Bernstine hauled in 21 rebounds, setting a new BSC tournament record.
ISU’s season will come to an end, as the Bengals went 16-15 on the year, the most wins in the Evans era.
