As noted in another thread, if the Bengals win tonight they will be in fourth place all alone. Portland State is a real Jekyll and Hyde outfit. Last weekend they shot over 60 percent from the field in each game, yet managed only a split, beating MSU and losing a two-pointer to Montana. The Vikings have one of the better front lines in the conference in Isaiah Pineiro, Collin Spickerman and Cameron Forte. All three shoot over 53 percent from the field, Spickerman leads the conference in blocked shots, and Forte has had some monster games, including a 20-point, 20-rebound effort against Idaho.
Despite their strength up front, however, Idaho State scored 40 points in the paint in the Bengals' 73-70 win in Portland earlier this season. The Bengals collapsed on the Viking bigs, leading the worst shooting three point team in the league to go 6-28 from beyond the arc. And, even though PSU is third in the conference in scoring (75.6) and shooting (46.5), they are last in FT shooting (65.1).
Their guards can't shoot, but they can defend -- the Vikings lead the league in steals, and yet Ethan Telfair put up 25 points and had 11 assists the first time these two teams played. A lot of numbers that don't really add up, but it should be a fun game as Idaho State goes for its sixth win its last 7 games. After Saturday's game with Sac State, the Bengals have only two home games and they are both in Reed Gym, against Montana (Feb.25) and MSU (27). So come on out and enjoy this team, they are a lot of fun to watch.
Despite their strength up front, however, Idaho State scored 40 points in the paint in the Bengals' 73-70 win in Portland earlier this season. The Bengals collapsed on the Viking bigs, leading the worst shooting three point team in the league to go 6-28 from beyond the arc. And, even though PSU is third in the conference in scoring (75.6) and shooting (46.5), they are last in FT shooting (65.1).
Their guards can't shoot, but they can defend -- the Vikings lead the league in steals, and yet Ethan Telfair put up 25 points and had 11 assists the first time these two teams played. A lot of numbers that don't really add up, but it should be a fun game as Idaho State goes for its sixth win its last 7 games. After Saturday's game with Sac State, the Bengals have only two home games and they are both in Reed Gym, against Montana (Feb.25) and MSU (27). So come on out and enjoy this team, they are a lot of fun to watch.
