Idaho State University’s men’s basketball team is set to continue its Big Sky Conference schedule with a two-game road trip. The Bengals will play Northern Colorado in Greeley on Thursday, January 8 at 6:00 p.m., followed by a game against Northern Arizona in Flagstaff on Saturday, January 10 at 6:00 p.m.
The Bengals enter the week with an NCAA NET ranking of 137, which is currently the highest among teams in the Big Sky Conference. Northern Colorado holds a NET ranking of 150, while Northern Arizona stands at 282.
Idaho State has established itself as one of the most balanced and defensively consistent teams in the conference. The team allows an average of 72.6 points per game, ranking third in the Big Sky. They are second in blocks per game (4.5) and lead the league in bench points per game (32.33). The Bengals also rank third in turnovers per game (11.6) and free-throw attempts per game (22.5).
On offense, Caleb Van De Griend leads Idaho State with averages of 14.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He ranks second in total rebounds (109), fourth in rebounds per game, and second in field-goal percentage (60.1%) within the conference, which places him 33rd nationally for field-goal percentage. Connor Hollenbeck contributes 14.4 points per game and is among league leaders in several categories including total points, three-pointers made, free throws made, and minutes played. Martin Kheil adds perimeter shooting strength, ranking third in three-pointers made per game (2.62) and fifth in three-point percentage (36.6%).
At point guard, Jamison Guerra is ranked third in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.73) and fourth in total assists (71) within the conference. Evan Otten leads the Big Sky with 26 total blocks and an average of 1.73 blocks per game; he is ranked nationally for both metrics.
Northern Colorado features one of the most efficient perimeter offenses in the conference and is led by Zach Bloch, who tops the Big Sky for three-point percentage (53.7%) as well as total three-pointers made and attempts. Quinn Denker leads all players in assists per game for Northern Colorado.
Brock Wisne provides inside scoring for Northern Colorado while maintaining a top-five field-goal percentage ranking within the conference.
Historically, Idaho State holds a slight edge over Northern Colorado with a record of 40–33 but trails when playing away games at Greeley with a record of 17–20.
Northern Arizona enters Saturday’s matchup leading the conference with eight steals per game and ranks high for turnover margin (+1.7) and turnovers forced per contest (13.53). Offensively, they are second-best among Big Sky teams for three-point field-goal percentage at 38 percent—good enough for a national rank of twenty-eighth.
Zack Davidson leads Northern Arizona with a field goal percentage of 61.7 percent while averaging fourteen points each contest; Traivar Jackson and Ryan Abelman lead their team on rebounding.
In their series history against Northern Arizona, Idaho State has won sixty-four out of one hundred twenty-two meetings but has found more success recently when playing at Flagstaff’s Walkup Skydome—winning nine consecutive games there.
Several Idaho State players have earned individual rankings within conference statistics this season:
– Caleb Van De Griend is among leaders for field-goal percentage, rebounds, points scored, blocks, double-doubles.
– Connor Hollenbeck ranks highly for scoring average, three-pointers made/attempted/made-per-game/free throw accuracy/minutes played.
– Jamison Guerra appears near top spots for assist-to-turnover ratio and assists.
– Martin Kheil excels at three-point shooting metrics.
– Evan Otten leads all players for blocked shots.
Additionally, Idaho State leads its conference peers not only on bench production but also limits fouls committed while maintaining efficiency across multiple defensive categories.
Earlier this season on November twenty-eighth against Cal State Northridge—the Bengals held their opponent to just twenty point eight percent shooting from the floor; this marked both their lowest ever allowed against Division I competition as well as being one of this season’s lowest percentages nationwide.
