[1] The Bengals were led by sixth-year head coach Jim Killingsworth and played their home games on campus at the ISU Minidome in Pocatello.

Led by seven-foot (2.13 m) senior center Steve Hayes, they finished the regular season at 21–4 overall, with a 13–1 record in the Big Sky Conference.

[3] At Provo, Utah, the Bengals drew national attention with their one-point upset of longtime power UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen.

[4][5][6] After UCLA scored to draw within one, freshman reserve guard Ernie Wheeler was quickly fouled in the backcourt with eight seconds remaining; he made both to go up by three.

In the Elite Eight game (regional final) against UNLV,[7][8] ISU led by a point at halftime, but lost by seventeen and ended the season at 25–5.