Idaho State Bengals men's basketball

Summary

The Idaho State Bengals men's basketball team represents Idaho State University in the Big Sky Conference in NCAA Division I. Currently led by head coach Ryan Looney, the Bengals play their home games on campus at Reed Gym in Pocatello, Idaho.[2] Prior to the 2019–20 season, home games were primarily played at the ICCU Dome (formerly known as Holt Arena), with Reed as a secondary venue.[3][4] The Bengals have appeared in eleven NCAA Tournaments, most recently in 1987.

Idaho State Bengals
2023–24 Idaho State Bengals men's basketball team
UniversityIdaho State University
Head coachRyan Looney (5th season)
ConferenceBig Sky
LocationPocatello, Idaho
ArenaReed Gym
(Capacity: 3,214)
NicknameBengals
ColorsOrange and black[1]
   
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1977
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1954, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1977
NCAA tournament appearances
1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1974, 1977, 1987
Conference tournament champions
(Big Sky) 1977, 1987
Conference regular season champions
(RMAC) 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956,
1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961
(Big Sky) 1974, 1976, 1977    

Idaho State Bengals coaches list edit

Postseason edit

NCAA tournament results edit

The Bengals have appeared in eleven NCAA Tournaments and have a cumulative record of 8–13. The team came to national prominence as a member of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) under head coach Steve Belko, who arrived in 1950 and stayed for six seasons, followed by John Grayson for the next three. Belko left for Oregon, Grayson for Washington.

In the sixth season under head coach Jim Killingsworth, Idaho State advanced to the Elite Eight in 1977. It was a 32-team field, and remains the furthest any Big Sky team has advanced in the NCAA tourney. The Bengals won an opening round game at home at the Minidome and then upset second-ranked UCLA by a point in the Sweet Sixteen in Provo, Utah.[5] Both teams entered the game with records of 24–4. After the high-scoring loss to fourth-ranked UNLV in the regional final, Killingsworth left for Oklahoma State.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1953 Round of 22 Seattle L 77–88
1954 Round of 24
Sweet Sixteen
Regional 3rd Place
Seattle
USC
Colorado State
W 77–75OT
L 59–73
W 62–57
1955 Round of 24 Seattle L 63–80
1956 Round of 25 Seattle L 66–68
1957 Round of 23
Sweet Sixteen
Regional 3rd Place
Hardin–Simmons
San Francisco
BYU
W 68–57
L 51–66
L 54–65
1958 Round of 24
Sweet Sixteen
Regional 3rd Place
Arizona State
California
San Francisco
W 72–68
L 43–54
L 51–57
  1959   Round of 23
Sweet Sixteen
Regional 3rd Place
New Mexico State
Saint Mary's
Utah
W 62–61
L 71–80
W 71–65
1960 Round of 25 California L 44–71
1974 Round of 32 New Mexico L 65–73
1977 Round of 32
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Long Beach State
#2 UCLA
#4 UNLV
W 83–72
W 76–75
L 90–107
1987 16 W Round of 64 (1 W) #1 UNLV L 70–95

NAIA Tournament results edit

The Bengals appeared in one NAIA Tournament, with a record of 1–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
1938 First Round
Second Round
Manchester (IN)
New Mexico State
W 41–38
L 40–56

Idaho State Bengals in the NBA/ABA edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Brand Colors". ISU.edu. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  2. ^ Guernsey, Madison (June 27, 2019). "Idaho State moving all men's basketball home games to Reed Gym". Idaho State Journal. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  3. ^ "Holt Arena". ISUBengals.com. October 11, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  4. ^ "Reed Gym". ISUBengals.com. October 11, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  5. ^ Rushdi, Farid (April 7, 2013). "Sweet 16 ISU's lucky number for '77 season: Beating UCLA turned Bengals into Cinderella". Idaho State Journal. (Pocatello). Retrieved March 30, 2017.

External links edit

  • Official website