GAME NOTES: A new phase of Idaho State basketball begins tonight as the Bengals hit the floor against the Wyoming Cowboys under the direction of interim head coach Deane Martin at Holt Arena in Pocatello.
Martin takes over for Joe O'Brien who, after a 2-8 start, decided on Monday that is was time to walk away from the program and hope that the players might respond better to a new voice on the bench. The only wins coach O'Brien was able to enjoy this season came against Colorado Christian and North Dakota, both at home.
Playing on the road has been an entirely different story for the Bengals who have dropped all six of their outings and are currently suffering from a three-game slide overall following a 71-59 setback to Utah last week in Salt Lake City.
As for the Cowboys, they were basking in the glow of a nine-game win streak heading into play on Monday night before being taken down by the surprising Denver Pioneers, 57-46, at Magness Arena. The defeat was just the second of the season after a 52-44 setback versus Green Bay last month on the road. At home thus far, the Pokes are a perfect 10-0, although that has no bearing this time around.
In terms of the all-time series, Wyoming claims an 11-7 advantage over the Bengals thanks in part to an 89-83 win in Pocatello in the most recent matchup back in 2000.
Wyoming was out of it from the very beginning against the Pioneers as the hosts made a total of just seven field goals in the first half and missed all four chances behind the three-point line. The second half wasn't much better for the Pokes as they again struggled beyond the arc (1-of-9) and connected on just nine field goals in the losing cause. Leonard Washington managed to make a significant impact with his 18 points and nine rebounds, shooting an impressive 7-of-8 from the field, but that means the rest of the team converted only 9-of-35 from the floor. Francisco Cruz added 11 points before fouling out. Washington is currently third on the team in scoring with 11.5 ppg and is tops on the glass with better than six rebounds per game, while Cruz and Luke Martinez are tied for the scoring lead with averages of 12.2 ppg. Martinez has made a significant impact behind the three-point line with his 38.8 percent accuracy.
Very little went right for the Bengals in their final game under O'Brien as they shot just 39.6 percent from the floor and 5-of-17 (.294) beyond the arc in the double-digit loss to Utah at the Huntsman Center. Melvin Morgan was responsible for 13 points as he sank 3-of-5 behind the three-point line, followed by Chase Grabau who made good on 7-of-10 shots at the free-throw line in order to finish up with 11 points, adding six rebounds, four assists and a trio of steals. The last three games have seen the Bengals rely on a different leading scorer each time out and that really hasn't helped with their consistency. Morgan is still the top scorer overall with his 12.8 ppg, even though his overall field goal shooting (.390) comes in below his three-point accuracy (.442). Grabau (10.7 ppg) is trying to do it all for Idaho State from his 5.4 rpg, to team-best 38 assists and 23 steals, which means he is giving it his all at both ends of the floor.
A change in coaching might give the Bengals some new perspective, but at least for this game, the chances of landing back in the win column are rather slim.
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