- Matchup: Idaho State Bengals vs. Montana State Bobcats
- Date: Thursday, January 22, 2026
- Venue: Worthington Arena, Bozeman, MT
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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This Thursday, the Montana State Bobcats (10-8) will face off against the Idaho State Bengals (10-9) at Worthington Arena.
The Idaho State Bengals recently faced Eastern Washington and came away with a tough defeat, concluding the game at 84-66. Idaho State finished the match with a shooting percentage of 37.5% (21 out of 56). From the three-point line, they managed to hit 5 of 25 shots. At the free-throw line, the Bengals excelled, converting 19 of 21 attempts for an impressive 90.5%. They secured 30 rebounds in total, including 11 offensive boards, and registered 13 assists while committing 12 turnovers and securing 5 steals. Defensively, Idaho State allowed their opponents to shoot 48.0%, permitting 24 out of 50 shots. Eastern Washington contributed with 8 assists and 5 steals in this confrontation. Moreover, they gathered 28 rebounds (6 offensive, 22 defensive) without recording any blocks, and they completed 82.4% of their free-throw attempts, converting 28 of 34. Out of their 15 attempts from beyond the arc, Eastern Washington made 8. Idaho State finished with 24 fouls compared to Eastern Washington’s 19.
Connor Hollenbeck stood out in this matchup, displaying a 66.7% shooting percentage without any assists, playing 30 minutes, and contributing 2 rebounds along with 15 points from 6 of 9 shooting.
The Bengals enter this game with a record of 10-9 for the season. They struggle with ball control, averaging 11.3 turnovers per game, and are committing an average of 17.6 fouls each game. The team averages 33.5 rebounds per game and has a total of 241 assists this season, ranking 254th in college basketball for assist distribution. Their three-point shooting sits at 34.4%, having made 157 of 457 attempts, and they convert 74.5% from the charity stripe. On average, they score 76.9 points per game (182nd in the nation), with an effective field goal percentage of 46.6%.
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On the defense, Idaho State is effective at forcing 11.0 turnovers per game while committing 19.9 fouls. They limit opponents to a 33.1% success rate from beyond the arc, ranking 193rd in Division 1 for points allowed per game at 73.9. The Bengals permit a field goal percentage of 45.4% (488 of 1,075) and allow an average of 29.2 rebounds per game as a unit. Defensively, they rank 135th in the nation, surrendering 235 assists for the season.
In their last outing, the Montana State Bobcats secured a narrow 73-68 victory against Northern Colorado. The Bobcats allowed Northern Colorado to grab 42 rebounds overall (15 offensive). They hit 7 of 21 shots from three-point range, finishing at 33.3%, and made 1 of 3 free throws for 33.3%. Northern Colorado managed to score on 30 of 70 attempts, resulting in a shooting percentage of 42.9%. In terms of overall shooting, the Bobcats converted 23 of 54 shots, achieving 42.6%. Montana State was successful on 11 of 26 three-point attempts (42.3%) and converted 16 of their free throws for a rate of 76.2%. Northern Colorado committed 16 fouls, sending the Bobcats to the foul line 21 times. The Bobcats also had a solid defensive effort, recording 20 defensive rebounds and 4 offensive rebounds for a total of 24.
Davian Brown was a key player for the Bobcats, scoring 16 points in 32 minutes, also contributing 2 assists. He shot 54.5%, going 6 for 11 from the floor, and collected 4 rebounds.
Montana State comes into this matchup with a 10-8 record for the season. They average 16.8 personal fouls per game and are hitting 74.9% from the free-throw line. The Bobcats dish out 11.9 assists per game, ranking 322nd in the nation, while they turn the ball over 10.7 times a game. They have scored 1,424 points so far this season, averaging 79.1 points per game and securing 34.6 rebounds per game. The team shoots 47.4% from the field, placing them 76th nationally.
Defensively, the Bobcats rank 96th in college basketball for points allowed per game at 70.3. They force an average of 11.8 turnovers per game and permit opponents to shoot 43.6% from the floor (178th in the nation). Opponents have a shooting percentage of 31.4% from three-point range (112 of 357) while converting 77.9% of their free throw attempts. Montana State allows 11.1 assists per game and grabs an average of 32.4 rebounds, ranking 33rd and 71st in college basketball, respectively.
Who will emerge victorious in tonight’s NCAA matchup against the spread?
Prediction: Select Montana State
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