Northern Arizona at Idaho State
Today, 7:05 p.m.
Reed Gym
Radio — 930 CBS Sports Radio or Rock 102.5
Web — isubengals.com (live stats)
Free live video stream — watchbigsky.com
Records — Idaho State is 10-15 and 7-9 in the Big Sky. Northern Arizona is 11-16 overall and 8-8 in the conference.
Series — Idaho State leads 50-43.
Last outing — Idaho State lost at Montana 62-61. At home, Northern Arizona fell to North Dakota 75-63.
Up next — Idaho State hosts Sacramento State Saturday.
Probable starters
Northern Arizona:F Gaellan Bewernick, 6-6, Jr., 7.5 ppg
F Jordyn Martin, 6-7, So., 2.4 ppg
F/C Ako Kaluna, 6-7, Fr., 4.3 ppg
G Kris Yanku, 6-4, Fr., 9.7 ppg
G Aaseem Dixon, 6-0, Jr., 11.6 ppg
Idaho State:G/F Chris Hansen, 6-4, Jr., 16.8 ppg
F Jeffrey Solarin, 6-4, Jr., 10.0 ppg
C Avibakuro Preh, 6-9, Sr., 3.3 ppg
G Andre Hatchett, 6-4, Sr., 14.3 ppg
G Tomas Sanchez, 6-3, Sr., 14.9 ppg
Game notes: Idaho State, Northern Arizona
Big Sky tourney in sight, it's desperation time for ISU men.
Defining Ayibakuro Preh — Senior's impact goes beyond the numbers.
Here's a Q/A about this weekend's games and what kind of mindset the Bengals have headed into two crucial contests.
Feel free to submit any thoughts/comments/questions to kfranko@journalnet.com. ...
What a missed opportunity in those two close losses in Montana last week. Now we're sort of in a do-or-die situation with these two home games against NAU and Sac St.
—— Yes. Missed opportunities is right. But it's been a season full of them. The Bengals had chances to beat North Dakota on the road (a game they lost in part because of a bad call, but it was more than that), Montana at home and Northern Arizona on the road.
Granted, by the same logic, Idaho State could have lost close games to Weber State and Northern Colorado.
How do you think this team will respond with our backs against the wall?
—— They'll play well today (against NAU) and Saturday (against Sac State). They're a hungry, desperate team with good senior leadership. But expect both the Lumberjacks and Hornets to come in to Pocatello playing with a sense of urgency, too.
Have you gotten a feel for the vibe of the players/coaches at all?
—— One of the stories in Thursday's Journal was about how the Bengals had a players-only meeting last Saturday after the loss to Montana. Chris Hansen hinted at the idea that it really hit them for the first time that they could actually miss the postseason.
But the vibe isn't one of panic. They're a confident group and they feel good about having a couple games at home this week.
Any idea what they've been working on most in practice (offense, defense, tempo, etc.)?
—— I haven't had time to sit down and watch practice, and coach Bill Evans is pretty cagey (rightly so) about what Idaho State wants to do in specific matchups.
But expect ISU to try and play fast at home against the 'Jacks, and I think they'll go to Hatchett and Hansen in the post a lot, too. As the season has progressed, Evans has relied on their size advantage down low (and both are talented at both attacking and creating for teammates). Some of their post presence will be mitigated with the way NAU rotates through defenses, though.
I feel like, after such close losses to the Montana's and to NAU the first time we played them, they're either going to have a lot of confidence or the frustration is building up.
—— I'd lean toward confidence. They'll come out with great energy.
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