Wildcats turn tables on Bengals

OGDEN — The last time Lance Allred stepped on the court against the Idaho State Bengals, he played arguable his worst conference game of the season and the Wildcats lost by more than 20 points. And WSU looked like it was on the brink of giving up on the season.

"Eight points and three rebounds," Allred said. "That game has haunted me for over a month."

But the 6-11 senior center and the Wildcats had the last laugh Saturday at the Dee Events Center with a 79-56 victory over the Bengals, and Allred more than redeemed himself. After scoring 23 points and hauling down 20 rebounds, he walked off the court for the last time to a standing ovation. The double-double was Allred's 19th of the year and 24th of his career.

"Having never beat Idaho State in a Weber State jersey, I wanted to make sure I beat them the last time I played them," Allred said.

The victory gives the Wildcats (12-15, 7-7) the fifth seed of the Big Sky tournament; they will play at Sacramento State next Saturday. The win was also the fourth straight in conference play for the 'Cats.

Idaho State (9-18, 3-11) had already been eliminated from post-season action.

WSU has made great strides since the loss at ISU with more players contributing. Terrell Stovall scored 15 points, including 3-of-3 from the 3-point line. Coric Riggs also scored 15 and Jamal Jenkins added 10 assists.

"I don't think we would have been satisfied with a regular win by six or seven," Stovall said. "We had to beat them as bad as they beat us. I think we still could have run it up more, but we started holding the ball."

Following the loss at ISU, Weber State dropped games at Montana and MSU before returning home and winning four of the next five.

Cravens said the game was a defining moment in the season.

"That was a hard time for all of us. We had a great opportunity at that juncture of the season to fold our tents. We lost three in a row and whole thing could have come apart," Cravens said. "Then we came home and got going again, it's a real tribute to everyone involved, especially seniors Lance and Troy (Goodell)."

The Wildcats got things rolling in the first half against the Bengals with a 14-2 run that turned a 19-14 deficit into a 28-21 lead. Weber State led 47-33 at the half and never trailed after that. Both coaches cleared the benches with about three minutes to go in the game.