Weber State at Idaho State pregame

Weber State at Idaho State

Monday, 7:05 p.m.

Holt Arena

Radio — 930 CBS Sports Radio or Rock 102.5
Web — isubengals.com (live stats)
Free live video stream — watchbigsky.com
Records — Idaho State is 9-13 and 6-7 in the Big Sky. Weber State is 14-7 overall and 11-2 in the conference.
Series —Weber State leads 76-48.
Last outing — Idaho State knocked off Southern Utah 75-65 on the road. On the road, Weber State beat Southern Utah 75-55.
Up next — Idaho State travels to Montana State Thursday.

Probable starters
Weber State
F/G Davion Berry, 6-4, Sr., 19.1 ppg
F Joel Bolomboy, 6-9, So., 9.0 ppg
C Kyle Tresnak, 6-10, Sr., 11.0 ppg
G Jordan Richardson, 6-1, Sr.,7.1 ppg
G Jeremy Senglin, 6-2, Fr., 11.0 ppg

Idaho State:
G/F Chris Hansen, 6-4, Jr. 16.9 ppg
F Jeffrey Solarin, 6-4, Jr. 9.6 ppg
C Avibakuro Preh, 6-9, Sr. 3.2 ppg
G Andre Hatchett, 6-4, Sr. 14.6 ppg
G Tomas Sanchez, 6-3, Sr. 15.2 ppg

Game notes: Idaho State, Weber State

Check out the Standard-Examiner's story on Weber State's defense by Roy Burton.

Here's the latest Big Sky standings. The optimistic point of view for Bengal fans:  Idaho State trails third-place North Dakota and Northern Arizona by 1.5 games.

The not-so-optimistic point of view for Bengal fans: Idaho State is in ninth place and after today’s matchup with Weber State, the Bengals travel to Montana State and Montana, possibly the toughest road trip of the season.

(To digress for a moment. The Montana and Montana State road trip has been largely viewed as the toughest in the Big Sky for a few reasons. 1) Montana is historically really good and Montana State is always at least competitive. So we’re talking about two good teams. 2) Montana and Montana State both have some of the better fan bases in the league. 3) It’s not easy to fly into Bozeman or Missoula Mont., in the winter, and after playing one of them, teams have to bus to the other. We’re talking a three-hour ride, probably longer in a slow-moving bus.

So for those traditional reasons, the MSU-UM week is tough for opposing teams. But has that road trip been overtaken by the duo of North Dakota-Northern Colorado? North Dakota is really, really difficult to get to and going from Greeley, Colo., to Grand Forks, N.D., (or vice versa) is no joke. And they’re both consistently good programs. Random thought.)

Hatchett’s challenge

Idaho State senior guard Andre Hatchett knows Weber State senior center Kyle Tresnak from their days in high school. Both are from Arizona and they played with one another on an all-star team following their final years in high school.

“I’ve been looking forward to this game for awhile,” Hatchett said after ISU’s 10-point victory at Southern Utah. “(Weber State) shut me down pretty bad. I’ve had this game marked on my calendar.”

In the first meeting Jan. 20 — a 65-59 Wildcat victory — Weber State held Hatchett to six points on 3-of-9 shooting, about 8.5 points below his season average.

But Hatchett was quick to point out that while his old friend got the win and Hatchett had a rough night, Tresnak — at least scoring wise — was even worse, scoring 4 points. Tresnak did add 11 rebounds and three blocks.

Hatchett is finding some extra motivation for the Wildcats because he’s facing an old friend. But make no mistake, everyone at Idaho State understands what a win against Weber State could mean.

ISU would jump into a tie for fifth place with five other teams and could carry momentum into Thursday’s game at Montana State.

“Rise to the occasion,” Hatchett said. “We’re right there with everybody.”

A loss doesn’t end Idaho State’s season. There’s still two more home games versus Northern Arizona (Feb. 27) and Sacramento State (March 1), but a win could catapult Idaho State in position to claim one of the Big Sky’s seven slots in the postseason tournament.