Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Idaho State
Wildcats Re-Write The Script In A 76-67 OT Win At Idaho State
1/29/2009 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
As ESPN's Stuart Scott would say, "...he's cool as the other side of the pillow." and certainly Weber State freshman guard DAMIAN LILLARD was all that and more on Thursday night as the Oakland, California guard poured in a career high 22 points, nine of them in the overtime period, leading the Wildcats from the desert to the promised land in a 76-67 come-from-behind win before 3,231 stunned fans inside ISU's Holt Arena.
Just 362 days ago inside Holt Arena in Pocatello, Idaho the Idaho State Bengals led by 13, 48-35, with 10:17. The Wildcats then put together a furious rally going on a 21-8 scoring run to tie the game at 56-56 with 1:24 left. A long three-pointer by AUSTIN KILPATRICK with 49 seconds left, sent the Bengals to an eventual 63-59 win.
Race forward to January 29, 2009, Holt Arena in Pocatello, Idaho. The ISU Bengals lead by 13, 49-36, with 13:42 remaining. The Wildcats put together a 27-13 run to take a 63-62 lead but had to rely on a missed free throw from AMORROW MORGAN with 15 seconds left, and survive a missed three-pointer by MATT STUCKI at the buzzer to get to the overtime period.
LILLARD out scored Idaho State by himself, 9-4, in the overtime stanza which began with a basket by STEVE PANOS just four seconds into the period, and a single free throw by PANOS at the 3:40, giving WSU a 66-63 lead. A jumper by MORGAN at the 3:09 mark brought the Bengals back to within one, but LILLARD followed with a lay up at 2:52 putting the ?Cats back up by three.
MATT STUCKI scored the final two of his game high 29 points with 2:20 remaining making it a one-point game (68-67) for the Wildcats. DAVIIN DAVIS missed a jumper at the 1:50 mark and ISU had an opportunity to take the lead but MORGAN missed a driving lay up which was snagged by KELLEN McCOY who threw down court to LILLARD who buried a huge three-pointer from deep in the corner giving the Wildcats a 71-67 lead.
DAVIIN DAVIS then came up with a big steal from MORGAN with 1:17 left. DAVIS was fouled by AUSTIN KILPATRICK. He made the first free throw but missed the second. AMORROW MORGAN's three-point attempt with 59 seconds left missed and again, McCOY snagged the long rebound. LILLARD made two free throws putting the Wildcats up by seven at 74-67, and made two more with 31 seconds left to seal the victory.
"This was as tough and hard-fought game as we've been in all year," said WSU head coach Randy Rahe. "But these kids never quit. Never put their heads down, they just kept working hard on every possession in those final 10 minutes and made it happen."
Idaho State led at the half time break, 33-27, getting balanced scoring from MATT STUCKI with seven and AMORROW MORGAN with six, while the Wildcats had seven from KYLE BULLINGER and six from KELLEN McCOY.
STUCKI scored ISU's first eight points to start the second half and his three-pointer at that 13:42 mark gave the Bengals their second, and final, 13 point lead of the game. STUCKI missed a three-pointer with 1:38 left in regulation which would have given ISU a four-point lead, but KELLEN McCOY got the long rebound and raced down court for a lay up putting the Wildcats up 63-62 for their only lead of the second half and just their second lead of the entire game.
STUCKI's 29 points came on 10-17 shooting, 5-9 from the three-point arc. AMORROW MORGAN was the only other Bengal in double figures with 11. FELXI CASPARI came off the ISU bench to haul in 11 rebounds in 27 minutes. ISU is now 7-15 overall, 4-4 in Big Sky play.
With Portland State's loss at Montana on Thursday night, the Wildcats now move into sole possession of first place in the Big Sky Conference with a 7-1 record. WSU is now 13-8 overall and has won four straight game. The Wildcats are now a perfect 5-0 ON THE ROAD in Big Sky play. LILLARD had his first 20+point scoring game of the season and a career high 22. KYLE BULLINGER, DAVIIN DAVIS and STEVE PANOS each had 13 points, while 5-6, 180 senior guard KELLEN McCOY led the team in rebounding with eight, all of them coming on the defensive end of the court.
Idaho State and Weber State meet again in less than 48 hours. The two teams tip off at 7:05 p.m. (MST) this coming Saturday, January 31 inside the Dee Events Center in Ogden, Utah.
