- Matchup: Montana State Bobcats vs Idaho State Bengals
- Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026
- Venue: Reed Gym, Pocatello, ID
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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On Saturday, the Idaho State Bengals (10-17) will face off against the Montana State Bobcats (15-11) at Reed Gym.
In their latest outing, the Montana State Bobcats secured a victory over Montana, winning 82-71. Montana State achieved a field goal percentage of 50.9% (29 of 57) and successfully sank 10 of their 22 attempts from beyond the arc. At the free-throw line, the Bobcats converted 14 of 21 shots, showcasing a 66.7% success rate. On the rebounding front, the team recorded a total of 29 boards, including 5 offensive rebounds. They notched 16 assists and forced their opponent into 10 turnovers, stealing the ball 5 times. Defensively, Montana State allowed their counterparts to shoot 44.4% from the field, with Montana making 24 out of 54 attempts. Montana managed 15 assists and had 3 steals, pulling down 29 rebounds (3 offensive, 26 defensive), but did not register any blocks. Montana ended with an impressive 88.2% at the free-throw line, converting 15 of 17 attempts, while hitting 8 of their 26 three-point shots. The game saw Montana State committing 15 personal fouls compared to Montana’s 21.
Jed Miller stood out in this matchup, shooting 36.4% from the field with 5 assists. He played for 32 minutes, grabbing 3 rebounds and scoring 19 points from 4 out of 11 attempts.
Montana State approaches this contest with a 15-11 record this season. They average 77.8 points per game (142nd in the nation) while shooting 46.2% from the field. The Bobcats have a three-point shooting accuracy of 36.6% (252 of 689) and a free-throw percentage of 75.7%. As a unit, Montana State grabs 33.4 rebounds per game and has recorded 295 assists this season, ranking 343rd nationally. They average only 10.1 turnovers per game and commit 15.9 fouls each night.
Defensively, the Bobcats force 11.6 turnovers per game while drawing 16.8 fouls. They rank 37th in the nation, allowing 296 assists this year. Opponents shoot an average of 44.5% from the field against them (670 of 1,506), and Montana State allows 32.8 rebounds per game collectively. They permit 33.0% shooting from three-point range and sit at 94th in Division 1 for points allowed per game at 70.7.
In their previous game, the Idaho State Bengals suffered a defeat, losing to Idaho with a score of 99-69. In terms of rebounding, the Bengals allowed Idaho to secure 38 boards (8 offensive). Idaho State shot 48.1% from three-point range, making 13 of 27 attempts, and finished 12 of 18 at the free-throw line (66.7%). Idaho capitalized on 37 of 62 field goal attempts, shooting 59.7% overall. When the dust settled, Idaho State finished with a shooting percentage of 35.4%, going 23 for 65 from the floor. From downtown, they made 7 of 27 attempts (25.9%). The Bengals took advantage of 18 free-throw attempts due to Idaho’s 19 fouls and forced 9 turnovers while securing 9 steals in the game. They gathered 25 total rebounds, including 16 defensive and 9 offensive boards.
Caleb Van De Griend played a crucial role for the Bengals, converting 5 of 10 attempts for a shooting percentage of 50.0% and grabbing 5 rebounds. He tallied 13 points during his 20 minutes on the court without registering assists.
Currently, Idaho State holds a record of 10-17 this season. The Bengals commit 17.1 fouls per game and have a free-throw percentage of 74.6%. They dish out assists at a rate of 12.0 times per contest (315th nationally), with an average of 11.1 turnovers per game. To date, Idaho State has amassed 2,006 points (74.3 per game) and collects 32.6 rebounds per contest. Offensively, they hit 45.4% from the field, ranking 169th nationwide.
Defensively, the Bengals are positioned 241st in Division 1 for points allowed per game, which stands at 76.0. They create 10.3 turnovers for their opponents and concede 47.5% shooting from the field (334th in D-1). Their opponents succeed on 35.5% of their three-point attempts (205 of 577), while free throws see a determination of 76.9% success rate. They allow 12.9 assists and total 29.4 rebounds per game, holding ranks of 140th and 7th, respectively, in college basketball.
Who will emerge victorious in this NCAA battle against the spread?
Prediction: Back Montana State
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