Idaho St defeats N Arizona 79-81
Idaho St Upsets N Arizona in Thrilling Conference Battle
In a back-and-forth contest, Idaho State University edged out the host University of Northern Arizona 81-79 on Tuesday night at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome.
The Wildcats held a slim lead at halftime, trailing by one point, but the Bengals stormed back to take control in the second half. The largest lead either team managed throughout the game was four points, with Idaho State maintaining a narrow edge for most of the final frame.
Jamison Guerra led Idaho State on both ends of the court, scoring 24 points and grabbing two rebounds, while also dishing out six assists. Connor Hollenbeck chipped in with 16 points and eight rebounds, helping his team secure its first conference victory this season.
For Northern Arizona, Karl Poom scored 22 points, including four from beyond the arc, to lead his team in scoring. Ryan Abelman added seven rebounds and six points off the bench for the Wildcats.
The game was marked by a high level of intensity and physical play, with both teams committing turnovers and capitalizing on fast break opportunities. In the end, it was Idaho State's balanced attack that proved decisive, as the Bengals outscored the Wildcats 44-40 in the paint and held an edge in free throws (17-20).
The win marks a significant turning point for Idaho State, which moves to 3-7 on the season and stays in contention for a conference tournament berth. For Northern Arizona, it's another tough loss in a tight conference schedule.
Advanced Statistics Highlight Key Differences
Idaho State's ability to control the pace of the game was a key factor in its victory. The Bengals held an edge in true shooting percentage (66.1% vs 62.3%) and free throw rate (40.4% vs 50.0%), while also outrebounding Northern Arizona by two boards.
On the other hand, the Wildcats' shooting efficiency from beyond the arc was a major factor in their loss. Poom's four three-pointers were too much for Idaho State to overcome, but ultimately fell short of helping his team secure its first conference win this season.
Ranking Context
This matchup marked an important test for both teams, with Northern Arizona sitting at 14th in the latest national rankings and Idaho State ranked 23rd. The Bengals' upset victory moves them up the conference standings, while the loss drops the Wildcats to 5-6 on the year.
As the season enters its midpoint, these two teams will face stiff competition from their respective conference foes, with significant implications for tournament seeding and postseason success hanging in the balance.