Idaho State versus Evergreen State post-game blog

Idaho State 99, Evergreen State 62

For a full game recap, click here.

Look below for the game’s entire box score.

Star of the game: Jeffrey Solarin. Solarin scored 23 points and gobbled up 10 rebounds. Even better, Solarin hit 10 of his 11 shots. The junior college transfer demolished Evergreen State inside the post as all 10 of his field goals were layups.
    It’s not a performance he’ll repeat — often — but the way Solarin can affect a game through defense and rebouding will be essential to any kind of success Idaho State can find this season.
    He’s listed at 6-foot-4. In reality, Solarin is 6-2 — maybe. But his arms are freakishly long and his aptitude to just, well, just rebound is special. It’s easy to see why ISU head coach Bill Evans was so happy to get him when he transferred out of Northwest College in Wyoming.
    (By the way, Idaho State and Portland State waged a recruiting battle for Solarin, a war Evans and the Bengals won, obviously.)

Reason for concern: Idaho State scored 97 points in its exhibition game Nov. 4, and the Bengals followed that up with a 99-point explosion against the Geoducks.
    But ISU is not an offensive juggernaut. The Bengals' Big Sky fate relies on their defense, and Evergreen — the worst team Idaho State will play this season — scored 62 points. Frankie Johnson, a 5-foot-9 guard weighing a resounding 145 pounds, burned the Bengals for 22 points, including six 3-pointers.
    It’s not acceptable, hence some of Evans’ frustration after the game.
    “Should I lie and say I’m all excited?” Evans said. “I’m not excited.”

IDAHO ST. 99, EVERGREEN ST. 62
EVERGREEN ST. (1-3)
Peters 1-4 0-0 3, Phillip 1-2 0-2 2, M. Taylor 7-12 0-0 14, Johnson 7-15 2-2 22, Calhoun 2-11 0-0 5, Dam 0-1 0-0 0, Rawls 1-4 0-0 2, Hong 1-5 0-0 3, Faison 2-4 0-0 4, Potter 1-3 2-2 5, Howard 0-1 0-0 0, Awadjie 0-0 2-4 2. Totals 23-62 6-10 62.
IDAHO ST. (1-0)
Preh 1-2 0-0 2, Sanchez 4-11 6-7 15, Solarin 10-11 3-4 23, Hatchett 2-10 5-8 9, Hansen 5-9 0-0 14, Hall 2-6 7-8 11, Tyler 3-5 2-4 9, Smith 3-4 4-4 11, Thomas 2-5 0-0 5. Totals 32-63 27-35 99.

Halftime_Idaho St. 49-29. 3-Point Goals_Evergreen St. 10-34 (Johnson 6-11, Potter 1-2, Peters 1-3, Hong 1-5, Calhoun 1-9, M. Taylor 0-1, Howard 0-1, Rawls 0-2), Idaho St. 8-15 (Hansen 4-7, Tyler 1-1, Smith 1-1, Sanchez 1-3, Thomas 1-3). Fouled Out_Smith. Rebounds_Evergreen St. 28 (M. Taylor 10), Idaho St. 50 (Hansen, Solarin 10). Assists_Evergreen St. 9 (Potter, M. Taylor 3), Idaho St. 12 (Hatchett, Sanchez 3). Total Fouls_Evergreen St. 23, Idaho St. 18. A_1,452.