The Idaho State Bengals will take on the Portland State Vikings Wednesday afternoon in round one of the Big Sky championship tournament. Idaho State comes into the conference tournament as the worst team in the conference after finishing the year 15 games below .500 following an 8 point loss to end the season. Idaho State lost the last game of the regular season to Southern Utah as the Thunderbird shot 50% from the floor and 36.4% from beyond the arc leading to the eight point victory.
Offensively Idaho State shot the ball well making 52.8% of their shots and 40% from beyond the arc we turned the ball over 14 times leading to the loss. Tarik Cool was the biggest spark for the Idaho State starters scoring 16 points on seven of 14 shooting. AJ Burgin led all scorers for Idaho State with 20 points in 31 minutes off the bench.
The Portland State Vikings come into the conference tournament after finishing the regular season in 7th place overall. Portland State lost the last game of the regular season 83-75 to Eastern Washington after shooting only 41.4% from the floor to end a four game winning streak.
Offensively this season Portland State has five players averaging double figures led by Khalid Thomas posting a team high 12.4 points per game to go along with a team leading 6.4 rebounds. Ezekiel Alley is second on the team scoring 11.2 points per game and Michael Carter III chips in 9.7 points and a team high 2.7 assists.
