ISU Men's Basketball Tips-Off on Friday Night vs. Iowa State, Sunday vs. Bradley

Nov. 12, 2009

Pocatello, ID --- Idaho State University's men's basketball team opens the 2009-10 season in head coach Joe O'Brien's old backyard as ISU takes on ISU, er, Iowa State on Friday night at 6:05 pm Mountain Time, and then travels over the Peoria, Illinois to face off with Bradley University on Sunday night at 5:05 pm. Bengal fans can watch the Iowa State game on ESPN's Full Court and ESPN360.

ESPN360.com is available free of charge to all students who get their high-speed Internet access through the on-campus network, to anyone getting their high-speed Internet through one of ESPN's affiliated ISPs, and to U.S.-based military personnel who access the Internet via on-base servers. The direct link to the live stream of the game is http://espn.go.com/broadband/espn360/index?id=293170066.

The game will be available on The Bengal Radio Network, which is flagshipped at ESPN Radio 930 AM KSEI in Pocatello and KRXK 1230 AM in Idaho Falls. The Bengal Radio Network also contains stations in Idaho Falls (KGTM 98.1 FM) and Twin Falls (KTFI AM 1270 AM). Jerry Miller will have the call.

About The Bengals
Idaho State returns four starters and seven letterwinners from last years' 13-19 team that advanced to the semifinals of the Big Sky Tournament for the second consecutive year. While the Bengals lost a couple of important cogs in Matt Stucki and Lucas Steijn, they return six seniors, including Amorrow Morgan, who led the team in scoring a year ago with a 13.6 average, and he also added 13.6 assists. Also back is leading rebounder Demetrius Monroe, who averaged 5.3 rebounds per game but has been slowed by an injury in the preseason. ISU also returns their leading shot blocker in Deividas Busma (29 blocks) and leading three-point shooter in Austin Kilpatrick (34 threes, but .417 percentage in conference play).

ISU was led in the exhibition season by Broderick Gilchrest, who averaged 23.5 points and 4.0 assists per game. Other players averaging in double-figures for the exhibition season were Donnie Carson (13.5), Amorrow Morgan (13.0), Deividas Busma (12.5), and Busma also averaged 11.0 rebounds per game. ISU shot .488 from the field and .691 from the line.

About The Cyclones
Iowa State went 15-17 last year, but just 4-12 in the Big XII Conference, although they were a very good 13-6 in Hilton Coliseum last year. The Cyclones return Craig Brackens, who was their only double-figure scorer last year, averaging 20.2 points per game last year, shooting .475 from the field. Diante Garrett was the leading assist man last year as well at 5.0 per game.

Iowa State crushed their two opponents in the exhibition season in Black Hills State (96-47) and UNC-Pembroke (106-54), averaging 101.0 points and recording a +50.5 scoring margin in the two games. Brackens averaged 15.5 points per game in the preseason, and despite his 6-10 frame, as he hit 6-of-7 three-pointers over the two games. Garrett also averaged 12.0 points and hit 8-for-11 from the field in the two exhibition games.

About The Braves
Bradley went 21-15 last year, including a season-ending loss in the College Basketball Insider postseason tournament as the Braves finished second. Bradley's 10 postseason wins over the last four years are tied for the seventh most over that period in the nation.

Bradley won their only exhibition game of the season 68-63 against Lewis last Sunday. Junior guard Andrew Warren scored 21 points, including hitting his first six field goals and free throws. That came after earning a medical hardship last season. Sophomore forward Taylor Brown added 12 points and eight rebounds as ten Braves played double-digit minutes, but none more than 24.