Idaho State Pair Makes Idaho Just Sick, 69-59 Ailing Morgan, Potter Combine For 27 Secondhalf Points In Rallying Bengals In Big Sky Opener

Donell Morgan was bothered by the flu bug and Jim Potter had what Idaho State’s trainer called low-grade mononucleosis.

After the Bengals’ duo teamed for 27 second-half points in ISU’s 69-59 win over Idaho on Friday night, UI basketball coach Joe Cravens looked liked he was hit by a double whammy of Potteritis and Morganoma.

“Morgan and Potter are the two best players in the league,” Cravens said. “They play with the eye of the tiger the entire game. We whipped ‘em in the first half and all they did was come out and take it to us in the second half.”

In doing so, ISU averted Idaho’s upset bid in the Big Sky Conference opener for both teams, which was viewed by 1,810 in the Kibbie Dome. ISU improved to 10-2.

The Vandals (5-7 overall) are afforded no sulking time. Boise State (1-0 in Big Sky, 10-2 overall) visits tonight at 7:05.

Idaho took a 28-19 lead at halftime as forward Harry Harrison limited Morgan to two points.

The Vandals scored 13 of the last 17 points of the half, all coming from guards Mark Leslie, Ben Johnson and Shawn Dirden.

But ISU quickly caught up, pulling in front on Morgan’s jumper at 34-33. The Bengals motored in front 46-39 with 10 minutes remaining but Idaho clawed within 52-50 on Harrison’s putback.

Potter, who had 21 points, hit the crusher on a 13-foot turnaround while being fouled. He added the free throw for a 55-50 ISU lead with 2:08 left.

“Mr. Reliable comes through again,” ISU coach Herb Williams said.

“That’s the second year in a row he’s hit a threepoint play to put it out of reach,” Cravens said.

One major difference from the first half to the second was that ISU often moved Morgan and Potter to the perimeter. From there, they did damage with jumpers and drives. And Morgan added two lob passes from the high post to Rob Preston for easy layups.

In the first half, Harrison had bullied Morgan into 1-of-5 shooting in the paint.

“He was bodying me up down low and our guys were scared to throw the ball to me because they were doubling down so quick,” explained Morgan, in between coughing fits. “I decided to take him out on top and see about his foot speed.”

Potter’s points didn’t come easy. But his soft touch finally started connecting and he has a knack for getting to the foul line. He was 7 of 9 at the stripe.

The Vandals never reached a smooth offensive flow and were bothered by ISU’s aggressive perimeter defense.

Yet despite 17 turnovers and 42-percent shooting, the Vandals had a chance against a team many consider the conference favorite.

“I thought they just outcompeted us in the second half,” Cravens said. “I just felt like they played like conference contenders and they were bigger, tougher and meaner than us in the second half.”

Cravens noted his team played hard, but something was missing.

“There’s a difference between good effort and being tough and gutsy,” he said. “Anybody can play 20 minutes, but you don’t get a whole lot of credit for winning the first half.”

The rim on the hoop at the west end of the Dome may need repainting. That hoop yielded ISU’s 22-percent shooting in the first half and UI 35.5 in the second half.

Harrison finished with 18 rebounds and 12 points. Leslie had 23 points, including a pair of 3-pointers in the final 40 seconds.

Idaho St. 69, Idaho 59 IDAHO ST. (10-2)

Morgan 6-12 4-4 16, Potter 7-14 7-9 21, Green 0-4 0-2 0, Lands 3-7 5-7 13, Watkins 2-6 1-2 6, Cotton 1-2 0-0 2, Lee 0-0 0-0 0, Harwell 1-6 5-5 7, Preston 2-4 0-0 4, Daniels 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-57 22-29 69.

IDAHO (5-7)

Jones 0-3 1-2 1, Harrison 5-10 2-3 12, Gardner 3-7 0-1 6, Dirden 5-10 0-0 13, Leslie 9-18 2-3 23, Johnson 1-5 0-0 4, Spike 0-1 1-2 1, Coates 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-55 6-11 59.

Halftime-Idaho 28, Idaho State 19. 3-Point goals-Idaho St. 3-10 (Lands 2-3, Watkins 1-3, Preston 0-2, Potter 0-2), Idaho 7-13 (Leslie 3-7, Dirden 3-4, Johnson 1-2). Fouled out-Gardner. Rebounds-Idaho St. 35 (Potter 9), Idaho 38 (Harrison 18). Assists-Idaho St. 12 (Morgan, Harwell 4), Idaho 9 (Dirden, Leslie 3). Total fouls-Idaho St. 17, Idaho 20. A-1,810.