by Zachary Knecht
Featured Image: Photo by Weber State Athletics
Weber State Idaho State Recap
Unbelievable! The Weber State Wildcats survive against the Idaho State Bengals in a 72-71 double-overtime thriller. The win is just what the doctor ordered for a team aiming to seize momentum on the road.
With the win, the ‘Cats are back above .500 at 12-11, improving to 7-3 in the Big Sky, while the Bengals slip to 8-15 and an even 5-5 in the conference.
Game Lines
The Wildcats did not cover the -3-point spread, but the over of 132 hits after playing two overtimes.
Team Leaders
Weber State’s scoring leader on the night was Junior Ballard with 20 points. The senior guard was an efficient six of nine from the field, topping his total off with six made shots from the free-throw line. Every point was needed, and he made the most of his 36 minutes on the floor.
Dillon Jones stepped up again for the Wildcats. His 16-point, 10-rebound double-double got him back on track after a subpar performance, and he asserted his dominance all night, playing 44 minutes and driving the team’s winning points to the basket. Jones is no stranger to hero ball, and he came through again for this gritty roster.
For the Bengals, it was Brayden Parker who dominated the floor. His team-high 23 points kept the contest close throughout with the rest of this starting rotation chipping into the offense. Unfortunately, Parker took many shots on the night, only hitting seven of his 19 attempts, while much of his team shot more effectively.
Making the Most
The Wildcats made the most of their opportunities on the night. They shot 47.4% from the field, taking advantage of their rebounding and forced turnovers. In games like this, it comes down to every possession, and the ‘Cats made it count. Though this offense has ranked last in the Big Sky for most of this season, they pull through when it matters, riding the performance of their second-ranked defense.
This Wildcat team continues to show moxie and resilience, and their players and staff deserve all the credit. They refuse to back down from a challenge and look any team in the eye knowing they have a chance to pull out a W.
What’s to Come
The Wildcats will ride the high of their victory into Northern Colorado to take on the Bears Monday.
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| Weber State Starters | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | MIN |
| Dillon Jones, F | 16 | 10 | 2 | 6-12 | 0-3 | 44 |
| Dyson Koehler, F | 13 | 7 | 0 | 5-8 | 3-5 | 31 |
| Steven Verplancken Jr., G | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2-8 | 0-2 | 45 |
| Alex Tew, C | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2-4 | 0-0 | 18 |
| KJ Cunningham, G | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0-3 | 0-3 | 32 |
| Bench | ||||||
| Junior Ballard, G | 20 | 1 | 2 | 6-9 | 2-4 | 36 |
| Zahir Porter, G | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3-8 | 1-2 | 22 |
| Daniel Rouzan, F | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2-3 | 0-0 | 12 |
| Handje Tamba, C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 10 |
| Team Total | 72 | 33 | 9 | 27-57 | 6-19 |
| Idaho State Starters | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | MIN |
| Brayden Parker, C | 23 | 6 | 1 | 7-19 | 1-3 | 32 |
| Brock Mackenzie, G | 11 | 4 | 4 | 4-9 | 3-5 | 42 |
| Miguel Tomley, G | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3-6 | 3-6 | 25 |
| Austin Smellie, G | 9 | 3 | 3 | 2-4 | 2-2 | 41 |
| Jay Nagle, F | 7 | 6 | 2 | 1-3 | 0-2 | 43 |
| Bench | ||||||
| Kolby Lee, C | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4-7 | 0-0 | 15 |
| Maleek Arington, G | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1-2 | 0-1 | 36 |
| Daxton Carr, F | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 10 |
| AJ Burgin, G | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 6 |
| Team Total | 71 | 30 | 13 | 22-52 | 9-21 |
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