Idaho State's Tarik Cool Tabbed #BigSkyMBB Ready Nutrition Player of the Week
FARMINGTON, Utah (November 12, 2019) – Idaho State junior guard Tarik Cool registered the third-most points in a single game in NCAA Division I during the opening week of the season to garner Big Sky Men’s Basketball Ready Nutrition Player of the Week honors.
Cool’s 41-point outburst paced the Bengals to an 89-79 road win at Air Force on Thursday. The transfer from Lane Community College went 11-of-17 from the floor including four three-pointers while connecting on all 15 free throws.
The Chandler, Ariz., native scored 27 points in the second half including 21 in the final 6:09 to help the Bengals overcome a second half deficit. Cool posted 10 points in the final 1:41 of regulation to fend off a late Air Force rally as the Falcons trimmed the Idaho State lead from nine to three with just over two minutes remaining.
In the victory, he added five rebounds, three assists, and one steal in 27 minutes of action.
On the week, Cool averaged 24.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 56 percent from the field (14-of-25). He finished with eight points, three rebounds, two assists and one steal in a 54-40 road loss to Wyoming in the season opener on Tuesday.
Cool’s 41 points were the most by an Idaho State player since Lawrence Butler scored 41 against UNLV on Feb. 10, 1979. The 41 points were the sixth-most Air Force has allowed in program history.
Cool becomes the first Bengal to earn player of the week honors since Geno Luzcando on Feb. 1, 2016.
Other Nominees: Joshua Patton, Sacramento State; Bodie Hume, Northern Colorado; Holland Woods, Portland State; Harald Frey, Montana State; Sayeed Pridgett, Montana; Dwayne Morgan, Southern Utah; Trevon Allen, Idaho; Jacob Davison, Eastern Washington
2019-20 #BigSkyMBB Ready Nutrition Players of the Week
Nov. 12 – Tarik Cool, Idaho State