ISU basketball releases 2013-14 schedule

There’s no place like home it’s said, but the Idaho State men’s basketball team better feel comfortable away from Pocatello.

For the second season, coach Bill Evans and the Bengals play a road-heavy schedule. This year it’s loaded with three Pac-12 programs and one in-state foe.

ISU travels to Arizona State (Nov. 15), Utah (Dec. 10) and Washington (Dec. 14). Those are three of the Bengals’ nine non-conference dates.

Other games include San Fancisco (Nov. 18), Cal State Bakersfield (Nov. 23) and Idaho in Boise at Century Link Arena Dec. 20.

“Everything is predicated on how well we do in our league, and I hope that our preseason schedule will help prepare us for league play,” Evans said.

Unlike a season ago when the Bengals finished 6-24 overall and 5-15 in the Big Sky, Idaho State does have two more home games slated before starting conference play.

“That’s a bonus. It’s a hard schedule, like a lot of other guys at this level,” Evans said. “... We’re just grateful we have a couple more home games than we had last year. We’re excited about the schedule and the opportunity it presents itself.”

Playing at home is big. In 2012-13, ISU entered the Big Sky 1-7 and played one game at Holt Arena in 54 days.

The schedule released by Idaho State Monday has the Bengals hosting Evergreen State College Nov. 9. Evergreen’s president is Les Purce, a former Pocatello city councilman and mayor.

And after a three-game road trip, Carroll College visits Pocatello Dec. 6, and then the Bengals welcome Cal State Bakersfield Dec. 28 before commencing Big Sky action against Portland State and Eastern Washington at home.

“I’m excited about our schedule,” Evans said. “... We have more depth. We’re a little more athletic. We’ve got a little more size. So hopefully that’ll equate to more wins.”

Idaho State men's basketball 2013-14 schedule

11/4/2013    7:05 p.m.        vs. Dickinson State (Exhibition)
11/9/2013    8:00 p.m.        vs. Evergreen State
11/15/2013  TBA               at Arizona State University
11/18/2013  8:00 p.m. (MST)    at University of San Francisco
11/23/2013  TBA               at CSU Bakersfield
12/6/2013    7:05 p.m.        vs. Carroll College (Mont.)
12/10/2013  TBA               at University of Utah
12/14/2013  TBA               at University of Washington
12/20/2013  TBA               at University of Idaho
12/28/2013  7:05 p.m.        vs. CSU Bakersfield
1/2/2014     7:05 p.m.         vs. Portland State University
1/4/2014     7:05 p.m.         vs. Eastern Washington University
1/9/2014      TBA               at University of North Dakota
1/11/2014    TBA               at University of Northern Colorado
1/16/2014    7:05 p.m.        vs. Southern Utah University
 1/20/2014    TBA               at Weber State University
1/23/2014    7:05 p.m.        vs. University of Montana
1/25/2014    7:05 p.m.        vs. Montana State University
1/30/2014    TBA               at Sacramento State
2/1/2014      TBA               at Northern Arizona University
2/6/2014      7:05 p.m.        vs. University of Northern Colorado
2/8/2014      7:05 p.m.        vs. University of North Dakota
2/15/2014    5:05 p.m.        at Southern Utah University
2/17/2014    7:05 p.m.        vs. Weber State University
 2/20/2014    TBA               at Montana State University
2/22/2014    TBA               at University of Montana
2/27/2014    7:05 p.m.        vs. Northern Arizona University
3/1/2014     7:05 p.m.         vs. Sacramento State
3/6/2014      TBA               at Eastern Washington University
3/8/2014      TBA               at Portland State University